It looks as though Liverpool could miss out on one of its reported left-back targets after it emerged that Manchester United is in talks to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce.

The 20-year-old, who can play as a full-back or as a winger, has been identified as a possible January target for United as the Red Devils pursue players who suit Ruben Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 system.

United has won just two of its 10 league games since Amorim arrived as head coach in November and the club finds itself as close to the relegation zone as it does the top eight.

Italian outlet Solo Lecce reported last week that Dorgu was Liverpool's primary left-back target amid the Reds' own issues in that area of the pitch.

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Andy Robertson is experiencing a difficult season and Kostas Tsimikas has not shown that he has what it takes to displace the Scot on a permanent basis, leading Liverpool to consider signing a new left-back, either this month or, more likely, in the summer.

Liverpool has apparently scouted Dorgu on several occasions but the Reds will have to turn their attention elsewhere if the Denmark international ends up joining United.

Another player who Liverpool has been linked with is the Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, and while it has always felt improbable that the Canadian would end up moving to Anfield, it seems even less likely after it was reported by The Athletic last week that Davies is closing in on a contract extension at Bayern Munich.

Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez has been heavily linked and will certainly not demand the kind of wages that Davies would be after. Bournemouth signed a new left-back this month, with 19-year-old Julio Soler arriving from Argentinian team Lanus, and while he has not been signed as a direct replacement for Kerkez, Soler's arrival would no doubt smooth over any possible exit for the Liverpool target.

Kerkez underlined his quality during Bournemouth's thrilling Premier League meeting with Newcastle on Saturday, scoring the Cherries' fourth goal of the game in a 4-1 win.

With the points already in the bag, Kerkez sprinted up the pitch in injury time to collect the ball, before working himself half a yard of space with a step-over and drilling a shot across Martin Dubravka, into the far corner of the net.