Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte has become the latest player linked with a move to Manchester United.
On Tuesday, Sky Sports reported that United are interested in the Uruguayan midfielder – 12 months after he made the move to the French capital. The outlet have claimed that the Reds have made an initial approach for the 23-year-old as they look to keep an eye on potential midfield targets – but no formal bids have been made with internal discussions ongoing.
L’Équipe meanwhile, have claimed that a bid has been rejected for the 23-year-old. The MEN understands that midfield is one of the areas that has been outlined for improvement within Erik ten Hag’s squad. And according to the i, if PSG are going to sell this summer, they want to recoup above the €60m (£50m) fee they paid Sporting CP for his services last summer.
Already this summer, United have lodged interest in Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite, seeing a bid rejected for the one-time England international and links with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee further up the pitch.
Premier League clubs have been in the headlines for their early transfer work as the deadline for Profit and Sustainability approaches (June 30). The MEN reported that sources insist they have managed their finances to ensure compliance and the club does not anticipate any rushed outgoings this week.
Ten Hag has chopped and changed his midfield options throughout his tenure as it enters its third year. Scott McTominay has proved his importance with key contributions throughout the Dutchman’s spell at Old Trafford, while Bruno Fernandes has proved to be a fantastic signing and indispensable member of the squad.
Casemiro, for all his billing, has endured a decline in his performances and faced criticism for his showings last term. Sofyan Amrabat was another option at Ten Hag’s disposal previously, but it doesn’t look like his loan move will become a permanent deal. The prospect of Ugarte’s arrival and United’s intent on adding a midfield target poses a different prospect for the team going into a new campaign where they will look to avenge their worst top-flight performance since 1990.
Captain Fernandes has proven a good attacking midfield option in a 4-2-3-1 formation for United, helped by the form of Alejandro Garnacho, and the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo has relieved pressure on the Portuguese in the heart of the midfield.
Ugarte, a defensive midfielder by nature, would be a perfect addition in the base of the midfield to accompany either Mainoo or McTominay. Far too many times last season, United were carved open on the counter-attack from their unbalanced midfielder and relinquished 20 opportunities against the likes of Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, to name a few.
The likelihood could be that United would sell some of their fringe players in order to fund the business of a defender, midfielder and a striker. Ugarte would be a building block in the midfield and the ideal move to achieve one of the targets of building for the future: buying a promising option with heaps of potential.
Landing the Uruguayan would help evolve the midfield, and in doing so, it could offer a new dimension to allow for a dream midfield of Mainoo, Ugarte, Marcus Rashford, Fernandes and Garnacho.
