Tottenham Hotspur are once again leading the pursuit to sign a left-back alternative to Destiny Udogie after failing to secure a move for the player during the summer transfer window.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the north London club attempted to sign Lecce’s rising star Patrick Dorgu in the last window.
However, Lecce deterred potential suitors with a hefty £29.5m (€35m, $39m) valuation for the 19-year-old wing-back, causing Spurs and other interested clubs to back off.
Dorgu has become one of Italy’s most promising young wing-backs over the past 18 months, catching the attention of top clubs across Europe.
Tottenham remains interested in bringing Dorgu to the Premier League, as Gazzetta dello Sport reported, while TuttoJuve also confirmed Chelsea’s strong interest in the Danish player as a potential replacement for Ben Chilwell.
Lecce, on the other hand, are determined to hold on to their prized defender.
The Serie A club recently announced that Dorgu has extended his contract until 2029, which further secures their negotiating position.
However, according to FiorentinaNews, Dorgu’s new deal does not entirely rule out his departure.
In fact, Lecce reportedly offered the contract extension to ensure a higher transfer fee when Dorgu eventually leaves.
It is expected that he will finish the current season with Lecce but is “very likely” to depart during the summer of 2025.
Lecce stands to make a significant profit, having signed Dorgu from Nordsjælland for just €200k in 2022. The club is now hopeful of sparking a bidding war for the highly-rated full-back.
How Dorgu Fits at Tottenham
If Tottenham manages to sign Dorgu next summer, he would likely take over the left-back role from veteran Ben Davies, who has been with the club for nearly a decade but is out of contract at the end of the season.
With Davies likely to depart, Dorgu could be the ideal replacement in Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
Davies has been versatile, filling in at both left-back and centre-back, but Tottenham’s summer signing Archie Gray has already shown promise across various defensive and midfield positions, signaling that a younger option like Dorgu could seamlessly step into the role.
At just 19, Dorgu is two years younger than Udogie, Tottenham’s current first-choice left-back.
However, by the time Dorgu arrives, Udogie will have gained two full seasons of experience in the Premier League.
While Udogie has had injury setbacks and is being managed cautiously by Postecoglou, he remains one of the league’s most dynamic attacking left-backs when fully fit.
Having Dorgu as competition could push Udogie to maintain peak form, especially since his performances haven’t consistently matched the high level he displayed during Tottenham’s strong start to last season, where they topped the league after 10 games.
Latest Tottenham Transfer News: Spurs Eye Inter Star, Porro Linked with Real Madrid
In addition to their interest in Dorgu, Tottenham is reportedly targeting Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck.
According to Inter Live, Spurs have expressed “strong interest” in the German international and could propose a player-plus-cash deal involving Radu Dragusin, one of their recent signings.
Furthermore, Tottenham may be willing to part with right-back Pedro Porro if a suitable offer comes in.
Real Madrid is reportedly eyeing Porro, with Give Me Sport noting that bids in the region of £60m could tempt Spurs to sell.
However, the Spanish giants’ interest in Porro might hinge on the future of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Should Liverpool retain their star right-back, Real Madrid could turn their attention to other targets, including Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen and Porro.
Dorgu vs. Udogie: Last Season’s Stats
A comparison of Dorgu and Udogie’s stats from last season highlights that Udogie currently has the edge in terms of end product.
Despite Dorgu registering more completed crosses, Udogie contributed three assists, while Dorgu had none.
This suggests that while Udogie is more effective in the final third, Dorgu’s potential is undeniable, given his youth and raw talent.
As Dorgu continues to develop, he could provide serious competition for Udogie, challenging the Italian left-back for the starting position in the long term.
Conclusion: The Race for Dorgu
While Tottenham may have been deterred by Lecce’s initial asking price during the summer, they remain keen on securing Patrick Dorgu’s signature next year.
With competition from Chelsea and other European clubs likely, it remains to be seen whether Spurs can win what could become a high-stakes bidding war for the talented young defender.
Should they succeed, Dorgu has the potential to significantly strengthen Tottenham’s squad and challenge Udogie for the left-back position.
