Tottenham Hotspur have been told that they will have to spend big if they want to sign one emerging Serie A star in January.
Tottenham eyeing 20-year-old defender
While it has been widely reported over recent weeks that Ange Postecoglou wants to bolster his defence in January, there is still confusion on what position the Spurs boss wishes to strengthen.
GiveMeSport reported on Sunday that the Lilywhites are still deciding whether they want to sign a versatile centre-back or a left-back to serve as cover for Destiny Udogie.
The report said that if Spurs decide to do the latter, Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu is the name at the top of their wishlist.
This was far from the only report linking Patrick Dorgu with a move to Spurs, with various Italian outlets suggesting over the last month that Tottenham are in pole position to secure the left-back (Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness).
Patrick Dorgu will not come cheap
Sky Italy journalist Francesco Modugno has now also named Tottenham as a contender for the Lecce man’s signature but he insisted that Postecoglou‘s side would face competition from the likes of Chelsea and Napoli for the player.
The reporter further asserted that it would take an offer of around €40-€50m (£33.4m-£41.7m) to price the 20-year-old away from Stadio Via del Mare.
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When asked about Napoli’s rumoured interest in Dorgu, Modugno said (via Calcio Napoli 24): “Can Dorgu really go to Napoli? I know one thing: in Lecce, they are sure to make the highest capital gain ever in the Corvino era. The boy could have gone to Tottenham and Chelsea last year, and Lecce could sell him for €40-50m. Patrick is predestined.
“In a recent interview I did with the former Salento coach Gotti, the coach confided in me that ‘God wanted him to play football’. He has infinite technical and physical means. In short, whoever wants him must pay at least a lot of money.
“There is no doubt that Napoli likes him, but he interests all the ‘big’ clubs, especially the English ones, who are looking carefully at a player like him: a very young player, good in the trident and who can also operate further back, even capable of scoring.”
Tottenham are unlikely to pay £40m for Dorgu
Dorgu will be signed as a backup for Udogie, which is why it would be surprising if Tottenham spent big on the Denmark international.
Having said that, the Italian has certainly not set the world alight this season and Postecoglou might feel that the former Udinese man needs to have someone breathing down his neck to bring the best out of him.