Manchester United continue to be linked with new signings this summer with Erik ten Hag surely keen to bring in at least one new midfield addition.
Euro 2024 and Copa America continue to attract all of the attention but the transfer window is likely to explode.
July is upon us and Premier League clubs will certainly begin to accelerate business ahead of the new season.
Manchester United will be no different and Erik ten Hag needs reinforcements after a disappointing season.
We would expect signings all over the pitch to bolster the United squad but the centre of midfield looks to be a key area of focus.
Casemiro’s future is unclear, loanee Sofyan Amrabat has returned to Fiorentina and Christian Eriksen is rumoured to be available this summer.
Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence has been a welcome boost but United surely have to dip into the market for a couple of midfield players this summer.
Manchester United given Manuel Ugarte boost
A number of midfielders have already been linked with United but the strongest rumour right now surrounds Paris Saint-Germain ace Manuel Ugarte.
Reports last week suggested that United had opened talks to sign Ugarte and had even had a bid rejected by PSG.
United are thought to be well short of PSG’s asking price right now but the Uruguayan has become a prime target.
An aggressive defensive midfielder, Ugarte was outstanding with Sporting in Portugal before heading to PSG for £51million last summer.
Ugarte started the season well but was in and out of the team towards the end of the campaign.
That means PSG may be open to selling and The Mirror (30/06, p79) claim that boss Luis Enrique is now ‘prepared’ to sanction a deal.
It’s stated that United have now held two rounds of talks for Ugarte and the midfielder fancies the move to Old Trafford.
United view Ugarte as the ideal replacement for Casemiro in the long term with the 23-year-old still having a bright future ahead of him.
Enrique being open to a deal is certainly a boost for United and it’s one hurdle cleared as talks continue over a potential deal.
Bayern stance on Ugarte
United won’t be the only club interested in Ugarte.
The move to PSG hasn’t worked as hoped but he has previously shown his quality as a combative defensive midfielder.
PSG’s willingness to sell will certainly drive interest elsewhere but United won’t face competition from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich as things stand.
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims that Ugarte is currently ‘not a topic of interest’ at Bayern despite rumours about a potential move.
Plettenberg adds that Ugarte is now a ‘serious target’ for United, so Bayern not being in the race is certainly a bonus for United.
That’s a double boost in terms of Enrique’s stance and Bayern not planning to join the race, so it’s now down to United to try and thrash out a deal with PSG.
