- 5 hours ago
Man Utd talks advance for ‘THUNDEROUS’ star who already sees himself at Old Trafford
![Erik ten Hag, Man Utd, 2023/24](https://static.footballtransfers.com/images/cn/image/upload/q_75,w_1200,h_675,ar_16.9/footballcritic/omrucsfaasjdsta4gt4w.webp)
Manchester United may be closing in on deals for Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt, but they are quietly advancing on the signing of PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to reports in France.
Pushed out of PSG by head coach Luis Enrique, United are set to swoop for the Uruguay international midfielder, who is valued by the Ligue 1 side around the €60 million mark.
The Red Devils made a lowball move for the 23-year-old, but after this was knocked back, they offered a deal worth €45m plus several bonus payments.
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Ugarte has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €41.4m, making this a realistic and fair offer from the Old Trafford outfit.
FootMercato reports that a deal is in good voice for a player who is described as having a “thunderous” start to his career at Parc des Princes before falling out of favour due to a “slight technical deficit”.
It is stated that Ugarte, who is focused on the Copa America, has struggled to understand Luis Enrique’s treatment of him, particularly after not getting an explanation of why he became peripheral.
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![PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte at the 2024 Copa America with Uruguay](https://static.footballtransfers.com/images/cn/image/upload/q_75,w_750,h_422,ar_750.421/footballcritic/cvftcarkdlktx5xluv5u.webp)
What Ugarte will give to Man Utd
If he is not the type of midfielder that PSG want, though, he is exactly the type of grafting central player who would offer a fine replacement to Casemiro at Man Utd should he leave Old Trafford. He specialises in winning the ball back via tackles and interceptions then playing a simple pass.
FootMercato says: “Manuel Ugarte has resigned himself and already sees himself playing at Manchester United in the coming weeks. United and PSG have seen their positions come closer in recent days.”
Man Utd have been monitoring other defensive midfield options, but Amadou Onana of Everton is both more expensive and more of a No.8 while Joao Neves would cost upwards of €100m and is a player lacking in experience.
As such, Ugarte is appealing to the Red Devils, with his superb Copa America performance only fuelling transfer speculation.