CONFIRMED: Liverpool in talks for Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 1 May 2023 15:08 BST
• 3 min read

Confirmed

Liverpool have been in talks over a possible move for Sporting CP player Manuel Ugarte, FootballTransfers can confirm.

Sources in Portugal have informed us that the Reds have been in contact for ‘the past two weeks’ and that Ugarte is certain to leave this upcoming summer transfer window.

The midfielder has a release clause of €60million and Sporting will ask for the full amount. This is partly because they will have to give 30% of the fee to Ugarte’s former club Famalicao.

At the moment, we hear that the Reds are negotiating for a lower amount than the full €60m and have not yet budged. Ugarte is a client of Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute - with his contract up at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2026.

READ MORE: Liverpool add TWO top midfielders to summer transfer shortlist

The defensive midfielder has been at Sporting since 2021 and could be seen as a long-term replacement for Fabinho, who has underperformed this season.

Thuram on Liverpool's radar

Meanwhile, reports in France have confirmed FootballTransfers’ exclusive story that Liverpool had talks earlier this year over a possible move for Khephren Thruam.

We reported that Liverpool did have initial discussions with the Frenchman in January but opted not to make the move for the Nice star.

L’Equipe have reported that Thuram is liked by Liverpool and is available for €60m. It’s our understanding that the fee could be a lot less - somewhere like €45m - but a lot will depend on the amount of interest there is in the midfielder from other clubs.

We are told that Thuram is almost certain to leave this summer window, but that a move for centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo is far more unlikely. The defender has had a slump in form recently and there are concerns that he is not quite ready for the switch this year at least.