Manchester United are pushing for a number of signings as the transfer window starts to heat up around Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag is staying at Manchester United and is now looking to bolster his squad ahead of the new season.
A number of deals are being worked on and progress appears to have been made on bringing new additions to the club.
Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee looks to be the closest signing right now with Fabrizio Romano claiming that his arrival is ‘one step away’.
United are also thought to be confident of signing Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt despite putting in offers for two other centre backs.
A new bid for Jarrad Branthwaite has been rejected but United have fared better with an offer for Lille’s Leny Yoro.
The Frenchman is thought to prefer Real Madrid but United have had a bid accepted, leaving the decision in the teenager’s court.
Manuel Ugarte stance on Manchester United
Centre backs and strikers are the focus but United also want a new midfielder with the spine of the team seemingly the centre of attention.
United are bound to have a number of targets in mind but Paris Saint-Germain ace Manuel Ugarte appears to be the priority.
Reports from France suggest that United have now offered £38million to sign Ugarte this summer.
Foot Mercato now claim that a move to United ‘appeals more and more’ to Ugarte having realised that he just isn’t the man for PSG boss Luis Enrique.
It’s stated that Ugarte’s move to United is ‘getting closer’ with the two clubs seemingly closing in on an agreement.
United do though face something of a wait.
Ugarte is currently in Copa America action with Uruguay and they face a semi-final clash with Colombia in the early hours of Thursday morning.
If Uruguay lose, United may well be able to accelerate Ugarte’s arrival, but a victory would just delay the situation by a few more days.
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Ugarte can bring combative edge to United
Midfield was a major problem for United last season.
Kobbie Mainoo’s breakthrough was a great boost but he is still learning defensive responsibilities in the engine room.
Add in that Bruno Fernandes likes to play a free role and there was just too much being placed on Casemiro, who doesn’t quite have the legs that he used to in his Real Madrid days.
United were so open and finding a real defensive midfielder to support Mainoo and Fernandes had to be a priority this summer.
Ugarte can do that; he is only 23 and has shown that he can really get around the pitch and protect his back four.
Ugarte has racked up 5.3 tackles per game at Copa America, again showing his defensive brilliance which made him a star at Sporting in Portugal.
Hailed as ‘wonderful’ by PSG boss Enrique last season, Ugarte is not just a destroyer in front of the back line as he can also carry and pass the ball well from a holding midfield spot.
Ugarte is the kind of midfielder United need and with a deal seemingly moving closer, he will hopefully become United’s primary holding midfielder for years to come.
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