Manuel Ugarte is a ‘serious transfer target’ for Manchester United this summer as the Red Devils look to strengthen in midfield.
Erik ten Hag wants to bring in a new defensive midfielder amid doubts over Casemiro’s future and Sofyan Amrabat’s return to Fiorentina from a loan spell at Old Trafford.
Ugarte is high on Manchester United’s shortlist of options and Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to allow the player to depart, following a mixed debut season after arriving from Sporting Lisbon.
The 23-year-old started just 21 league games following his €60m arrival in Paris last summer, though led Ligue 1 for tackles per game (4.67) and completed 91.2% of his passes on average – ranking in the top four percent of midfielders in the division.
Manchester United admire Ugarte’s ball-winning as the club look to complement Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes in midfield. Discussions are expected to take place, though a decision on Ugarte’s future is likely to wait until the conclusion of Uruguay’s Copa America campaign in the United States.
Chelsea and Liverpool were each interested in signing the midfielder last summer and the latter are open to additions in an anchor role again, having missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia a year ago.
Sky Germany are reporting that Bayern Munch, however, are not actively pursuing Ugarte despite recent links. The Bundesliga side are focused on agreeing a deal for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
