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Man Utd have already signed a left-back who could replace Patrick Dorgu

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Published Sep 14, 2026, 4:10 PM GMT+1

Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.

A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.

His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.

Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.

Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.

Today, Matt leads Football FanCast's features team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's opinion coverage while helping shape its overall editorial standards and content strategy.

It's now 24 hours since Manchester United slipped to a catastrophic defeat at the hands of their rivals on Sunday.

Whatever you think about the legality of Erling Haaland's second-half goal, this was a nightmare performance from Michael Carrick's men. Perhaps the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer curse has returned.

To date, United have won just once in the league this season and the positivity that had engulfed Old Trafford at the back end of 2025/26 has been eradicated. This looks like Solskjaer, Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag all over again. Perhaps this is just what fans will need to get used to.

Will United ever be back? Well, it's difficult to see a clear vision for the future right now. If they are to go to the next level, however, they need to improve their backline. The performance of full-back Patrick Dorgu was particularly abject on Sunday afternoon.

The big problem with Patrick Dorgu at Man Utd

Over the summer, supporters knew that United needed to sign a left-back. Lewis Hall was the number one target but after a summer in which Newcastle had sold all of their star players and lost their manager, the Englishman was forced to stay. He has now signed a new contract at St James' Park.

Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde was also linked on a regular basis, while Joaquin Seys at Club Brugge was an option. However, no move was forthcoming late in the window.

That looks to have been a mistake judging by the opening weeks of the season. Indeed, there was always a fear regarding what would happen if Luke Shaw got injured. Lo and behold, he wasn't fit for the derby and Dorgu delivered an extremely worrying performance while playing as understudy.

Since arriving at Man Utd as a left-back, he has been anything but that. Amorim played him as a left wing-back and under Carrick to date, he has moonlighted as a winger. It's a big issue. Going forward, the Dane isn't awful. Remember that goal against Arsenal last term? He is a threat.

Yet, this is Manchester United, the great Manchester United. It's a team that have had some of the greatest wingers in Premier League history, chiefly Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs. For fans to see Dorgu running down the flanks is something of an insult.

The trouble is that while he has delivered inconsistent performances while playing as a forward, he's not much of a defender either. The City game showcased that.

Dorgu vs Man City

Minutes played	90
Touches	68
Dribbles
Shots
Key passes	1
Accurate passes	37/41 (90%)
Defensive contributions	9
Tackles	3
Ball recoveries	3
Duels won	7/12
Fouls	3

Before his sending-off, Dorgu gave Foden the freedom of the pitch to attack down the right-hand side and he was also somewhat at fault for the goal. He was too slow to get out to Josko Gvardiol and the ball deflected off him kindly for Haaland to prod home at the back post.

So, what's the solution? Well, there are a few young options coming through.

Man Utd's Patrick Dorgu solution

When analysing the crop of young defenders coming through at United many will point in the direction of 19-year-old Harry Amass.

If Carrick is to try something new then he looks like the most likely option. The teenager played the final 18 minutes of the 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League last week.

Yet, there's another solution and he goes by the name of Diego Leon. You may not know much about him and that's because he only signed a year ago, arriving from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno for a fee of around £6m.

It was a left-field deal but signing the best young talent from South America is all the range now. It's the done thing, didn't you know?

Already capped once by Paraguay, the 19-year-old is yet to play a competitive game for the Red Devils but caught the eye in the U21s last term, proving to be a regular starter in Premier League 2.

So, what's he all about? Well, in the words of Como scout Ben Mattinson, he is a "powerhouse" of a full-back. What stands out most is his physicality.

As Mattinson outlines, Leon has a "broad, compact build that allows him to dominate duels with real aggression despite his young age."

He continued: "The combination of his speed, initial acceleration, ability to change direction quick and dribble out tight areas are why he’s done well at senior level already."

Given the intensity and the physicality of the Premier League, that bodes really rather well for United and the player.

Yet, what's the all about defensively? Robust and physical, he's set in that regard but given his age, there are things to work on, particularly his awareness and how he channels his aggression. He's a marauding left-back too, meaning he will need to work out when to head forward and when to keep his position. It's all about being positionally disciplined.

Still, this is a young talent with so much potential. His skillset is eye-catching and that's precisely why he was signed by United. It's a pity he hasn't played for the senior side yet but it may not be too long given the performances of Dorgu and the injury record of Shaw.

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