Two years ago, in what was perhaps a rock bottom moment for Manchester United’s recruitment team, a deal for Frenkie de Jong blew up in their faces.
The Red Devils had agreed a £72 million deal with Barcelona.
But, crucially, they did not reach an agreement with Frenkie de Jong himself. And with the midfielder determined to stay at the Camp Nou, months of drawn-out negotiations proved to be little more than a colossal waste of time.
Two years on, Manchester United are going about their business very differently.
Rather than agreeing a fee before agreeing personal terms, United are doing things the opposite way around. They had convinced Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to join long before a combined £51 million deal was struck with Bayern Munich.
The now-Ineos-controlled outfit have taken a similar approach in pursuit of Manuel Ugarte too.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Manchester United edge closer to Manuel Ugarte deal with PSG
Fabrizio Romano claims that the Paris Saint-Germain enforcer had rubber-stamped terms with Manchester United four weeks ago.
As such, if or when United and PSG finally settle on a fee, confirmation of the Uruguayan’s arrival could be fast-tracked, a la with De Ligt and Mazraoui.
It took only two days for the former Ajax duo to be officially reunited with Erik ten Hag once United had a bid accepted by Bayern.
That double-deal took the tally of new, first-team signings to four. Number five might not be too far away, either. Not with super-agent Jorge Mendes holding talks over Ugarte’s future in England.
Did we mention that Mendes has an excellent relationship with Ineos? Or that he was also central to the deal which took Leny Yoro to the Premier League giants?
They say it is not ‘what you know’ but ‘who you know’. When it comes to Ineos, however, Man United’s new bosses are clearly not lacking either nous or contacts.
“It is important to say that movements are taking place in Manchester,” Romano explains on his official YouTube channel. “Jorge Mendes is in England to negotiate with Chelsea (for Gallagher).
“Jorge Mendes is also in England, talking to Manchester United on a regular basis because Jorge Mendes is the man who is leading the conversations and the negotiations for Manuel Ugarte.
“Ugarte, almost one month ago, agreed on personal terms with Manchester United, saying yes to Manchester United. Jorge Mendes is the same agent as (who represents) Leny Yoro.”
Paris Saint-Germain have no place for the Uruguayan
There is still work to be done and hoops to be jumped through, however.
There was a £20 million gap between the fee Man United offered and the fee Paris Saint-Germain continue to demand. Romano insists that, if a deal is to happen, either PSG much row back on their £50 million asking price, or Man United raise further funds by cashing in on another senior player.
While the departure of Mason Greenwood helped free up the cash required for Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move to West Ham paved the way for Mazraoui and De Ligt to swap Germany for England.
“Mendes is still working, still trying to find a way between PSG and Manchester United,” Romano adds. “Ugarte wants to go to Manchester United. He is pushing to go to Manchester United.
“He is in love with the idea of playing for Manchester United; Old Trafford, the Premier League, the opportunity to work at an important club.
“But its important to say that Manchester United need one of these conditions to make the deal happen; the price has to be reduced, or they need to complete a sale in the midfield.
“Casemiro, no bids at the moment. McTominay, Fulham did not reach the valuation. And then also interest from Napoli but Manchester United have been very clear.
“A loan is impossible.”
Ugarte, interestingly, is training away from the rest of PSG’s first-team squad ahead of Friday’s Ligue 1 opener with Le Havre.
Per reporter Loic Tanzi, he is not part of head coach Luis Enrique’s plans.
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