Manchester United opening bid for key transfer target was just £30 million

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Manchester United are set to conclude a deal for Manuel Ugarte after agreeing a fee with Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.

Manuel Ugarte will be announced as a Manchester United player on transfer deadline day, with the club applying the finishing touches to the deal.

Ugarte underwent and completed a medical, and his confirmation as a Manchester United player is a mere formality.

A fee of £42.2 million rising to £50.6 million in add-ons has been agreed, a good fee for the Uruguay international regular.

• READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Manchester United struck a good deal for Manuel Ugarte

Manchester United are used to overpaying for players. It has been a habit which has been hard to crack over the past decade.

This time around, United have bought low, managing to convince Paris Saint-Germain to take an initial loss on the Uruguayan.

It has flipped the script on United paying big for Angel di Maria in 2014 and then selling to the French side after just one season.

Ugarte, 23, can be a long-term solution for United’s midfield, and for a little context, the fee is £13 million cheaper than Mason Mount, £18 million cheaper than Casemiro, and £5 million cheaper than the deal paid for Fred.

A deal will rank just 17th amid Manchester United’s most expensive signings ever.

• READ: Who is Manuel Ugarte? Everything you need to know on Uruguay midfielder

Long negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain

Manchester United’s negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain began back in June, while Ugarte was at the Copa America.

Ugarte agreed personal terms in mid-July, and has had to wait weeks for the United deal – rejecting advances from other clubs.

United’s opening offer was just £30 million, according to French outlet But!, far below PSG’s initial hopes to at least break even on Ugarte.

In mid-August, United threatened to walk away from a deal and explored other options, but Ugarte was always first choice.

Now an agreement has been reached with both sides getting what they wanted and able to save face.

United have managed to land Ugarte, at a relative discount, extracting maximum value on the deal. While PSG can say that with add-ons, they have broken even.

The Red Devils will have no issues paying the add-ons if Ugarte is a successful signing as expected.

Low opening bids are part of the dance. Go in too high early, and you have nowhere to turn. Ineos deserve credit for sticking to their guns and landing all of their key targets at reasonable prices.