'Pole position' - Chelsea and Spurs race to sign 'next Gareth Bale' in £34m January transfer

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as frontrunners to bring talented Lecce youngster Patrick Dorgu to the Premier League in the near future, but that move won't come cheap for either of the London clubs.

Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport report that the Blues and Spurs are in 'pole position' to sign the Denmark international. The outlet adds that any transfer is now likely to cost €40 million, which is equivalent to approximately £34 million.

There was talk of the 19-year-old leaving the Serie A club this summer for €30 million but a deal did not emerge and the outfit are now prepared to charge more as the full-back continues to develop. It is thought that Tottenham Hotspur provided more serious transfer interest during the summer but that Chelsea could rekindle old hopes of signing the player come January.

Dorgu enjoyed a breakthrough season at Lecce last term having been brought into the club's youth academy from Nordsjaelland in Denmark in 2022. The teenager made 32 Serie A appearances last season as he impressed in the league.

The defender was handed his first and second senior Denmark caps during the recent international break as his stock continues to rise. The versatile player, who can be deployed on both wings as well as at left-back, came off the bench in wins against Switzerland and Serbia - scoring against the former of the two.

Lecce manager Luca Gotti had previously tipped the full-back to follow in the footsteps of Gareth Bale thanks to his dynamism and versatility. Gotti said: “He seems to have great adaptability. He enjoys playing on the pitch.

“Important people from the football world are starting to call me to ask me what I see. [Gareth Bale] becomes a forward. He could have played as a full-back. This could happen with Dorgu.”