Man Utd in talks to sign alternative to Nuno Mendes | OneFootball

Manchester United have opened talks with Lecce over a deal to sign versatile left-back Patrick Dorgu, according to reports.

The Red Devils' wretched season went from bad to worse on Sunday as they suffered a sixth home Premier League defeat of the season. Brighton & Hove Albion emerged comfortable 3-1 winners at Old Trafford, handing Amorim his fourth loss in front of United's faithful since taking over from Erik ten Hag.

United's defensive issues have been well documented, as has Amorim's preference to play a wing-back system. In the aftermath of the defeat to Brighton, the Portuguese insisted "I'm not going to change the way I see the game" before warning that his players and the club's supporters will "suffer" as he has "one way of doing things".

One player Amorim had hoped to sign was Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes, having worked with the turbo-charged Portuguese full-back at Sporting CP. But it now looks likely that the 22-year-old will instead extend his contract in the French capital, ending any prospect of a reunion in Manchester.

The Athletic report that United's attention has switched to Lecce's Dorgu and that discussions have started over a potential transfer.

Nuno Mendes had been Ruben Amorim's preferred option / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

The 20-year-old, capped four times at international level by Denmark, only signed a new four-year contract with Lecce back in October, but his impressive performances in Serie A have caught the attention of United's scouts.

Dorgu has started 19 of Lecce's 21 Serie A games this season, featuring not only at left-back but also at right-back and on the right wing. It's those attacking tendencies that may have caught the eye of Amorim, who has used the ever-improving Amad as an front-footed right wing-back at times.

United's urgent need to sign a new left-sided player has been highlighted by Diogo Dalot's inconsistent displays in a role that is largely unfamiliar to him. The Portuguese international is a right-back by trade but has featured more and more on the opposite flank as Luke Shaw continues to battle various injury problems.

Noussair Mazraoui is also capable of playing on the left and has filled in on occasions, but he too is far stronger on the right and has been preferred in that role in order to allow Amad to flourish further forward.