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Manchester United are interested in PSG’s defensive midfield rock Manuel Ugarte.
According to Sky Sports, “United want to sign a new central midfielder this summer and he is one of a number of players they are looking at.”
It is a badly kept secret that the Red Devils want to move Casemiro on this summer, with Saudi Arabia looking the likely destination as he lines up a deal that would reunite him with former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.
Even if the Brazilian were to stay, his patchy form, age and lack of other credible alternatives in defensive midfield mean this is an area United are prioritising this summer.
23-year-old Ugarte fits the profile to a tee, being the right age for Ineos and, potentially, at a reasonable price point.
Ugarte has a market value of €45 million (£38m) as per transfermarkt.com, although PSG paid €60 million/£50.75m to Sporting Lisbon for him just 12 months ago.
He played 37 games for the French giants last season and was a mainstay in their star-studded team. However, Luis Enrique tended not to trust him in a number of big games, including all but two legs of the Champions League knockout stages and the Coup de France final.
It nonetheless seems unlikely that PSG would want to part with the powerful Uruguayan, especially if they were to make a loss in selling him. Conversely, United are unlikely to have the funds to pay a premium on the €60 million he cost the French club.
It is certainly an unlikely story but as it is being claimed as an exclusive by Sky Sports, it must have some credibility. It could be that owing to Enrique’s preference for other types of player, he could be made available for loan.
The news could give rise to rumours of players potentially going the other way. The Ligue 1 champions have a long-standing interest in Marcus Rashford, for example.
If United are capable of a permanent deal for Ugarte, it certainly would suggest that earlier reports of a £50 million transfer budget were wide of the mark.
With a centre back and striker absolute musts, there is no way the club could sign all three unless the defender and striker were loans, free transfers or available for minimal amounts.
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