Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte open to joining Manchester United despite no Champions League football
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte is ‘keen’ on joining Manchester United this summer.
The 20-time English champions, after extending head coach Erik ten Hag’s contract until 2026, are looking to bolster the squad for the forthcoming 2024/25 campaign. After a torrid 2023/24, new co-owners, INEOS, are wary of the task they have to lift the club and make them successful again—both in the Premier League and Europe.
Manchester United are close to announcing their first summer signing in the form of Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee. They remain in talks with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, as Erik ten Hag looks to plug the gap in the squad left by Raphael Varane. In addition, the club also remain in contact with Paris Saint-Germain for the signing of defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
Ugarte emerged as a concrete option for the Red Devils in central midfield in recent weeks following Casemiro’s uncertain future at Old Trafford. After a strong debut season in English football, Casemiro struggled to replicate his form this past campaign. With the Brazil international heavily linked with a move to the cash-rich Saudi Pro League, Man United view Ugarte as one of the options to potentially replace him in Ten Hag’s side.
in addition to Ugarte, Wolves’ Joao Gomes and Benfica’s Joao Neves also feature in the Red Devils’ list of midfield targets to replace Casemiro. However, when asked who INEOS could bring in from the midfield trio this summer, Fabrizio Romano revealed to GIVEMESPORT that Ugarte’s deal as the easiest to thrash out.
“Yeah, Ugarte, at the moment, is probably the easiest name between the ones you mentioned, because Ugarte could be available in the summer transfer window as, for Paris Saint-Germain, he is not a crucial player,” Romano exclusively told GIVEMESPORT.
“He didn’t have an easy second part of the season at PSG, Luis Enrique was not using him so much so the idea of Manuel Ugarte trying a different experience, if he has the possibility to go to Premier League, he’s keen on that possibility. He’s keen on Manchester United and even without Champions League football for Ugarte, it’s something that he would be happy to do.”
This is a huge positive for Man United in their pursuit of Ugarte. The 23-year-old will look to rediscover his form at Old Trafford after a difficult second half of the season in the French capital. He managed only 21 Ligue 1 starts across his debut campaign at PSG after arriving from Sporting CP in 2023, with the likes of Vitinha, Warren Zaire-Emery and Fabian Ruiz preferred ahead of him in midfield by manager Luis Enrique.
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Ugarte enhanced his stock with some tireless displays at the heart of Uruguay’s midfield at the Copa America. The tough-tackling enforcer was among the most impressive performers for Marcelo Bielsa’s side that lost to Colombia in the semi-finals earlier this week.
With the ex-Sporting CP man showing his willingness to join Man United regardless of no Champions League football on offer next season, INEOS must quickly wrap up a deal to bolster a key area in Ten Hag’s squad.
