Liverpool are “very likely” to make an offer for Lecce’s young defender Patrick Dorgu, as Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke look to improve the Reds’ squad further. While the current focus is on revitalising the midfield following captain Jordan Henderson’s impending exit, the club are looking at defensive options.
They have repeatedly been rebuffed in their pursuit of Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, while 18-year-old Dorgu also is of interest to Liverpool according to the player’s agent Kingsley Ogbodo. The 18-year-old only moved to Italy a year ago after coming through the Nordsjaelland academy, but has impressed especially during Lecce’s Primavera win.
He is yet to break into the first team but is a Denmark under-19 international, and it is likely that if Liverpool are successful in signing the teenager he would likely be added to the under-23 squad. Dorgu’s agent has urged him to remain at Lecce, but believes that an offer from the Reds is incoming.
“Well, I know Liverpool are interested,” Ogbodo told Sport Italia. “I’ve received this information and I know they have been watching him, they know who he is and are following him. Barcelona and [Manchester] City too, but as I’ve said in previous interviews, there’s no way he’s going away right now.
“No, they haven’t made any offers. But Liverpool are very likely to make one. I don’t know if that will happen, but they are interested and they like the player. The best advice I can give him, as his agent, is to stay in Lecce, yes. To push and develop what he has, at least for two seasons, before leaving.
“Obviously, any departure will depend on how he has grown. These are very big clubs in Europe, he’s probably not ready to go now, he needs more time to grow. There are many, both in Serie A and in Serie B, who follow him. But given that Liverpool have shown so much interest, it won’t be long before other big teams do the same.”