Manchester United are now looking to steal Sporting Lisbon “sensation” Manuel Ugarte from under Chelsea’s nose, according to a report from reliable Portuguese outlet A Bola who also claim that the Red Devils are willing to pay his £51.5 million release clause. The 22-year-old is rumoured to be close to a move to Stamford Bridge, but United may now be able to stand in the way of that, offering Champions League football and a more stable situation than the Blues.
Manchester United Looking to Steal Manuel Ugarte From Chelsea
United Looking to Bolster Their Midfield
The Red Devils certainly need to improve their midfield this summer.
There is currently interest in Mason Mount who has a fairly similar profile to Bruno Fernandes and could cover for the Portuguese international if he is ever unavailable, which admittedly has been rather infrequent since his move to Old Trafford in January of 2020.
Equally, the English international could lineup alongside Fernandes, providing United with two creative influences just behind their frontline.
Just as any absence of Fernandes has been semi-calamitous for the Red Devils, they’ve also struggled immensely without Casemiro. The Brazilian defensive midfielder has spent several games sidelined due to suspension, and in his absence, Erik ten Hag’s midfield has been far too easy for opposition players to move through, while they’ve also lacked a creative influence from deep.
Now, though, United could be looking at bringing in Ugarte as cover for Casemiro.
This could be a game-changer for Ten Hag, as, with what is on offer from United’s current squad, a serious, long-term injury to their number 18 would throw any hope of winning another trophy next season into serious doubt.
Should the Red Devils sign Ugarte, Erik ten Hag would have more freedom to rotate his squad, something he has refrained from doing during the 2022/23 season presumably due to the lack of quality in the depth available to him, meaning the most important players will be fresher when the big matches come around.
Read More: £190k-a-Week Manchester United Man Has Now Likely Played Last Game for the Club
