Chelsea target makes U-turn after club ruined dream transfer

Patrick Dorgu has signed a new long-term contract at Serie A side Lecce.

The versatile Danish full-back has been one of the Italian top-flight’s most intriguing young talents since joining Lecce in the summer of 2023. Just a few months after his arrival, Dorgu was already being linked with a Premier League switch such was his impact in Serie A.

Now a senior Denmark international – and goalscorer – the 19-year-old continues to be the subject of speculation as interest in his services has only increased since 2023.

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Indeed, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are both long-time admirers of the defender and were interested in a summer move. Signing for the former would have been a dream transfer for Dorgu as he is a boyhood Blues fan.

However, not even free-spending Chelsea, who initially wanted to loan Dorgu to BlueCo affiliate Strasbourg, were prepared to shell out the whopping €40 million Lecce were demanding, signing Atlanta United youngster Caleb Wiley instead.

Dorgu signs new contract

However, rather than trying to push for a move to his favourite club after his failed summer transfer, Dorgu has knuckled down and continued to impress at Lecce.

This has now seen the youngster rewarded with a new long-term contract that will make it even more difficult and expensive for clubs to sign him in the future.

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Dorgu is now tied to the Serie A side until 2029 and will have to battle against the drop this season. Lecce are currently 17th in the table, level on five points with Genoa, who have recently been in the news a lot due to their efforts to sign free-agent striker Mario Balotelli.

Dorgu has netted one goal so far this term and has mostly been used in a right-wing position in Lecce’s 4-2-31- rather than in his usual left-back spot.