Chelsea target GIVES UP colossal wage to join Pochettino

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 5 Jun 2023 06:13 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are closing in on the summer transfer of Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte - and the midfielder has turned down a huge wage to join.

Despite being offered €5million to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, as well as a six-year salary of €1.5m, amounting to €9m, the 22-year-old looks to be heading to Chelsea, where he will earn just €3.5m

Reports in Portugal have suggested that the Blues will sign Ugarte in a transfer that could cost up to €65 million.

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Portuguese outlet Record states Ugarte has picked the Blues over interest from PSG, but even though they are offering better terms, he wants to join Chelsea.

The move has been driven by Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea will pay €60 million for the former Famalicao player. They will also pay Sporting €5m in bonuses if certain conditions in the deal are met. Record reports: “The deal is closed and Ugarte will be a Chelsea player.”

Ugarte has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €18.5m but has seen his value rise as high as €23m, with his value virtually doubling since last summer.

He is a player noted for his enormous defensive qualities, which is something that Chelsea have missed in their midfield over the course of what has been a very difficult season.

Ugarte closing in on Chelsea

FootballTransfers broke Chelsea’s interest in Ugarte and now other publications have picked it up.

Exc: Understand that Chelsea are admirers of Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte but club are reluctant to issue any major signings until some current players are sold and Mauricio Pochettino is confirmed as the new coach.

— Jacque Talbot (@jac_talbot) May 3, 2023

And now Ugarte is set to be Pochettino’s first signing since his head coach arrival, with the midfielder expected to be joined by Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig after a pre-agreement at the end of 2022.

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