Can Patrick Dorgu solve the Manchester United's LWB woes?

Manchester United continue to face defensive struggles with the change in the system after Erik ten Hag departed the club. While the Dutchman emphasized playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, the new manager, Ruben Amorim deploys his favored 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 while he still lacks the players. However, the board is looking to solve the wingback conundrum with their new signing Patrick Dorgu. 

Manchester United secured the services of Patrick Dorgu from Lecce in the ongoing transfer window in a deal worth €35 million. The 20-year-old has featured in 57 games in Italy and has five goals to his name. While Diogo Dalot and Mazroui continue to play as wingbacks in the current system, Dorgu is expected to be slotted in directly in the playing XI after the initial training sessions. 

Manchester United’s official statement read: 

Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Patrick Dorgu has joined the club, subject to visa and registration.The Denmark international has signed a contract until June 2030, with the option of an additional year.

Can Dorgu solve the Manchester United problems? 

Patrick Dorgu’s story dates back to his early childhood where he grew up in the streets of Copenhagen while playing alongside his siblings. Currently, one of his siblings plays as a forward in Genoa whereas the other one is a shot-stopper in Denmark’s lower leagues. 

The Danish Superliga side Nordsjaelland had scouted the player while he was in his early teens but they never made a concrete offer to secure his services. While Nordsjaelland is known for producing the finished goods from the raw, the first significant offer for the player was from Lecce when they were promoted to Serie A. They secured the services of the wingback in a deal worth €200,000. 

If somebody were to describe Patrick Dorgu, the one word is “versatile”. The Danish wingback plays on both the flanks but is known for his energetic bursts on the left flank. Some of the key traits include physicality and industriousness which have helped him prosper in the league. While he is good with his attacking abilities, the player has his challenges in defensive duties. However, the player has time in his career to chunk those issues. It remains interesting to see how Amorim will look to get the best of the wingback in the tumultuous times for the club.