United have unlocked the key to signing Ugarte with clever transfer ploy
When Manchester United splashed the cash on Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro earlier in the transfer window, it became clear they might have to be creative to sign a midfielder.
United have worked with a limited budget and, like all Premier League clubs, have been conscious of PSR rules, which meant spending a multi-million fee on a midfielder without offloading Casemiro – there was a lack of interest in the Brazilian – wasn’t going to be financially possible.
That’s without mentioning United also signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for an initial combined fee of €60million (£51m) from Bayern Munich to strengthen the defence.
With Zirkzee, Yoro, De Ligt and Mazaroui through the door, the club’s attention has turned to signing a midfielder and talks are progressing with Paris Saint-Germain for Ugarte.
A move for Ugrarte seemed to lose momentum last month due to PSG’s valuation of the player, but a compromise to negotiate a loan deal for the 23-year-old is currently being discussed.
United’s preference is to buy Ugarte from PSG but they have been unwilling to meet the £51.5 asking price and a loan deal could be structured with the option to make it permanent.
United were forced to be creative to sign Amrabat last summer, stumping up a hefty €10million loan fee and including an option to make the deal permanent for £25m, and it always felt likely that a breakthrough for Ugarte would require a deal to be similarly structured.
The need for some fresh legs in the centre of the pitch has been obvious since November, despite there being signs in the last few weeks that there may be some life still in Casemiro.
Although Burnley midfielder Sander Berge was considered by United, he’s now on his way to Craven Cottage and that is expected to end their interest in Scott McTominay, who could have unlocked a permanent transfer for Ugarte if he was sold for £30m to the London club.
Keeping McTominay, who became a matchwinner from the bench last season, and negotiating a workaround to sign Ugarte is the ideal outcome and United are hopeful of pulling it off.
Well-placed sources have acknowledged there would be a benefit to United’s profitability and sustainability calculations if a fixed fee for Ugarte is deferred until next summer and the Uruguay international was left out of PSG’s squad last weekend as talks picked up momentum again.
In terms of what Ugarte would bring to United, he’s a highly mobile defensive midfielder and will be able to intercept and recover balls, which is what Erik ten Hag needs.
The midfield was the biggest problem last term, which was partly due to personnel and partly tactical, and going into the new season without making a new signing was unthinkable.
Casemiro has looked sharp in attacking areas in the Community Shield and on the opening day of the season against Fulham, however, he still looked off the pace defensively.
Ugarte should be able to pick up his slack and could be the perfect foil for Kobbie Mainoo, with Bruno Fernandes starting in front of that pair in central attacking midfield.
There has been a growing South American influence in the United dressing room since Ten Hag’s appointment from Ajax in the spring of 2022 and Ugarte has the aggression, quality and mentality that is typically associated with players from that corner of the world.
He should improve United and is a better option than re-signing Amrabat, which has been discussed and not ruled out throughout the summer in the Old Trafford board room.
Amrabat made an impact at the end of last season and fans will be hoping Ugarte can make an impression sooner, providing a deal can be agreed with PSG before August 30.
