Manchester United willing to take cut price fee for Manuel Ugarte just two years after £50million transfer
Manchester United are willing to sell Manuel Ugarte for £25million this summer, talkSPORT understands.
United paid Paris Saint-Germain £50million two summers ago to make Ugarte the first signing of the INEOS era.
United are prepared to sell Ugarte for £25million this summer
The 25-year-old signed a five-year deal through to the summer of 2029, with the option of a further year.
However, Ugarte has made just ten starts across all competitions this season.
The midfielder has also been an unused substitute for the Red Devils’ last two Premier League outings.
His exit comes ahead of a planned midfield overhaul at Old Trafford this summer.
Casemiro’s departure has already been confirmed when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, United have added Atalanta’s Ederson to their list of transfer targets, talkSPORT understands.
The Brazilian is valued at around £42m, but has already agreed personal terms with Atletico Madrid.
United could still secure his services, though, with a fee yet to be agreed by the Spanish giants.
As for Ugarte, the Uruguayan has made 69 appearances for the Red Devils since his arrival in 2024.
Those appearances have produced just two goals and six assists in all competitions.
Ugarte has played second fiddle to Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo this season
He has been an unused substitute in each of United’s last two top-flight matches
His last appearance came in the defeat to Leeds United earlier this month, with Ugarte playing the full 90 minutes.
It represented his first Premier League start since January 7 – a run stretching back ten matches.
Speaking on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Devils, United fan and broadcaster Flex insisted that Ugarte is not at the level required to play for United.
He said: “All the guys that are in charge of recruitment at United, if they don’t smash it out of the ballpark in the summer, forget it.
“They need to go one further [than last year], people are forgetting just how much surgery the squad needs.
“Casemiro is leaving the football club, to replace him, that leaves is at par.
Ugarte as been named in the line-up just eight times from his 22 Premier League outings this term
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“So that’s not an extra body to deal with the extra games, it’s par.
“Ugarte is not good enough, he’s going to leave, but that’s keeping the squad as it is.
“[Joshua] Zirkzee is probably going to leave, [Tyrell] Malacia… so that’s keeping the squad as is.
“We need more quality, we need more numbers, the squad, rightly so, we reduced in size [last summer] because we had one game a week and no Europe.
“So for me, it’s about recruitment, recruitment, recruitment.”
talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent and United supporter Alex Crook then added: “And recruiting from within the Premier League I think was recipe for success last season.”
Ugarte has failed to justify his £50m price tag since joining from PSG
Ugarte spent a season with PSG prior to his move to United at the start of last term.
He had previously spent two years in Portugal with Famalicao and Sporting Lisbon.
During his time with Sporting, Ugarte won the Portuguese League Cup under former United boss Ruben Amorim.
The Uruguay international is set to feature for his country at this summer’s World Cup.
Ugarte has one goal in 35 senior international caps since making his debut aged 20 in 2021.
He was part of the side which drew with England at Wembley Stadium in March.
