Liverpool transfer blow as wonderkid declares "dream" to play for PL rivals

27 September 2023 , 11:28

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Patrick Dorgu has declared he is a fan of Chelsea (Image: Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)

Lecce defender and Denmark Under-21 international Patrick Dorgu has claimed it is his “dream” to play for Chelsea despite being extensively scouted by Liverpool.

Dorgu, who will celebrate his 19 ^th birthday next month, joined the Italian side last year from Nordsjælland and he caught the eye for their Under-19 side. That progress saw him fast-tracked into Roberto D'Aversa’s first-team squad this season – where he has featured in all six league games.

The left-back played 38 times last season to help Lecce win the Primavera 1, Italian football's biggest youth competition, for the first time in 19 years. That saw Dorgu’s profile raise with multiple scouts from around Europe taking note, including those of Liverpool.

Dorgu's representative Kingsley Ogbodo this summer played down talk of an imminent move to Anfield, insisting that his client was “not ready” for the move as he needed to play regular first-team football. He has started twice for high-flying Lecce in Serie A this term, coming on a substitute in all other matches.

Ogbodo said to Danish outlet Bold of Dorgu’s future: "Liverpool want him. Liverpool have been watching him and interested in him for some time, but if he goes there he’ll have to play in the U23 team." He continued: "It’s not the best for him, so I advise him not to do it. They can offer him a lot of money, but that’s not what we’re looking for right now. We focus on his career, development and playing time."

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Dorgu – who is under contract Lecce through to 2027 – is a left-back by trade but can also play on the wing, and he showed his attacking ability last season by scoring four goals last term. He has now opened up on his career ambitions, outlining how he has always been a fan of Chelsea.

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Dorgu has featured regularly for high-flying Lecce this term (Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

“Chelsea is my dream to play for,” he told Danish paper Ekstra Bladet, as cited by the Echo. “I have been a fan of them for over 10 years, so it would be a huge dream to play for them.” He added of the interest in his signature: “I really just take it as motivation, that when the big teams look at me, it is because I am doing the right thing and must continue. Then it’s just a matter of time before the big teams come knocking.”

Born in Denmark, Dorgu is of Nigerian descent and has risen through the Scandinavian nation’s youth-team ranks – being capped at Under-21 level this month. He made his Lecce senior debut last month in a Coppa Italia game against Como.

Colin Millar