Manchester United have reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to acquire midfielder Manuel Ugarte for £42 million, with an additional £8 million in potential add-ons, bringing the total deal to £50 million, as reported by ESPN on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Uruguayan international is set to undergo a medical examination before the transfer is finalized. If all goes as planned, Ugarte could make his debut for the Red Devils against Liverpool at Old Trafford this Sunday.
Ugarte made 37 appearances for PSG last season, contributing three assists. He joined the French champions after PSG secured his transfer from Sporting CP for €50 million (approximately £43 million). Despite his promising performances, Ugarte did not feature in PSG’s first two Ligue 1 matches of the 2024-25 season, fueling speculation about his future.
According to sources cited by ESPN, Ugarte had expressed his desire to seek new challenges, prompting PSG to negotiate his transfer to Manchester United.
The acquisition of Ugarte will bring Manchester United’s summer spending to over £180 million. To balance the books, the club has agreed to transfer midfielder Scott McTominay to Italian Serie A side Napoli for £25 million. The move is expected to provide McTominay with more regular playing time and experience in a different league.
In addition to Ugarte’s signing, Manchester United are reportedly in discussions with Chelsea over a potential swap deal involving forwards Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling. ESPN reports that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has informed Sterling that he is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Sancho, who struggled to secure a spot in Manchester United’s starting lineup under manager Erik ten Hag last season, spent half the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund but did not secure a permanent move. Both Juventus and Chelsea have shown interest in the winger, but negotiations between Manchester United and Chelsea appear to be the most advanced.
With the summer transfer window closing this Friday, Manchester United are keen to finalize their squad reinforcements as they aim for a strong start to the season. Fans are eagerly anticipating the potential debut of Ugarte and the impact he could have on the team’s midfield dynamics.
Reference(s):
Manchester United, PSG agree on Ugarte deal for 50 million pounds
cgtn.com
