Lecce have already outlined that they are not willing to sell Manchester United target Patrick Dorgu this month.
The Red Devils are short on options at left wing-back with Luke Shaw injured, and United's new head coach, Ruben Amorim, has been forced to use Diogo Dalot on the wrong side of the pitch during his early weeks in the job.
While United are limited in what they can do in the January transfer window, signing a left-sided wing-back has emerged as a priority - and Dorgu is said to be a top target.
Talks have already taken place over a deal which would see the 20-year-old become Amorim's first signing. But Lecce sporting director, Pantaleo Corvino, has previously been adamant that the youngster would NOT be sold in the January window.
Speaking last month to Gazzetta dello Sport, Corvino acknowledged the growing interest in Lecce's promising young star but said: "Dorgu is a potential champion. Correction: he is a champion.
"On the left or right wing, he runs like three players and can find the goal. He has an engine that no one else has.
"A player like him has admirers, of course, and there are plenty of them, even abroad. But Dorgu will stay here, and then we’ll talk about it in the summer, because his destiny is already set – his future belongs to him."
While Lecce would prefer a deal to happen in the summer, United are in desperate need of reinforcements this month with the club currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Amorim has been unable to inspire a drastic turnaround in results with the players he inherited back in November and Sunday's 3-1 loss at home to Brighton means he has collected just 11 points from as many games in the league.
January reinforcements could be funded by offloading a number of high-earners, including Marcus Rashford who is expected to leave Old Trafford on loan in the next two weeks. Antony is expected to follow Rashford out the door with talks over a six month switch to La Liga with Real Betis now at an advanced stage.
Tyrell Malacia, United's other senior left-back, could also leave United on loan before the transfer deadline in two weeks time.