Manchester United are still looking to add a midfielder with Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte a key target.
Football can move quickly, just ask Manuel Ugarte. One year ago Ugarte was the shiny new signing at Paris Saint-Germain, now he is left out of their squad for the opening game of the season.
Ugarte is not necessarily at fault here. PSG are a club going through something of an identity crisis, as they move on from the strategy of hinging their hopes around big name forwards, with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe now all departed.
Uruguay midfielder Ugarte has got lost amid the revolution, moved aside for new PSG signing Joao Neves, another talented midfielder from the Portuguese league, with a very different skillset.
Ugarte is pinning his hopes on Manchester United as his next move. He was first reported to be a target back in June, per ESPN.
Manuel Ugarte desperate for Manchester United move
Manchester United have done quite well this summer to avoid pursuits of players developing into a long-running saga, until now.
Manuel Ugarte was expected to clinch his move in July, yet with the clubs unable to agree on price, the South American is in limbo.
Fabrizio Romano provided an update via The United Stand on YouTube, where he re-affirmed Ugarte’s preference to sign with United.
He explained: “The player is going crazy to join Manchester United, I can guarantee that. He wants to go to Manchester United.
“He has an agreement on personal terms. Now it’s about waiting for a solution.”
In reference to those potential solutions, Romano added: “The only way is to sell a player or find a creative formula with Paris Saint-Germain.”
Separately, United In Focus has been told Ugarte has been rejecting interest from other clubs, as he is singularly focused on a move to Old Trafford.
Ugarte talks ‘accelerating’
Talks between United and PSG are ongoing, and France Info reporter Julien Froment reports they are heading in the right direction.
He wrote on X that a ‘creative solution’, for instance, a loan with an option to buy, is not in PSG’s plans.
Froment explained: “Talks are accelerating for the transfer of Ugarte to Manchester United. It will be a sale, Paris will not lose out financially.
“In addition, there is a slimming down operation at PSG: Danilo, Bernat, Mukiele and Soler are invited to find a club.”
One way or another we do expect this to get done, with Scott McTominay most likely to make way at Manchester United.
The club are also raising funds through selling Facundo Pellistri, with Hannibal expected to follow.
The Guardian claim, however, that sales are not necessary for United to fund a move for Ugarte.
A player who now looks unlikely to exit is Casemiro, with his proposed exit falling through.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
