June 28th 2024.
Ugarte was excited about the possibility of joining Manchester United this summer. Talks between the club and Paris Saint-Germain had intensified, and the midfielder was eager to make the move to Old Trafford.
United had expressed their interest in the Uruguayan player earlier this week, but it was reported that PSG had rejected their initial offer as it did not meet their valuation. Ugarte had joined PSG from Sporting Lisbon last year for a whopping £51 million after a potential move to Chelsea fell through.
Although Ugarte had been a regular in the first team under manager Luis Enrique in the first half of the season, he lost his place in the side during the second half. PSG were now looking to recoup the hefty amount they had spent on the 23-year-old, and it was reported that United had reached out again on Friday to discuss a potential deal.
Despite United not being able to offer Champions League football, Ugarte was still open to making the move to Manchester. The club had finished eighth in the Premier League last season, but their FA Cup triumph had secured them a spot in the Europa League.
In addition to Ugarte, United were also looking to strengthen their squad by signing a centre half, a striker, and a holding midfielder. With uncertainty surrounding the future of Casemiro at the club, United were on the lookout for a potential replacement.
Their pursuit of Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite had hit a roadblock, as the Toffees were holding out for a whopping £70 million for the young star. United, on the other hand, were not willing to meet that price and were prepared to walk away from the deal unless Everton lowered their demands.
Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt was also on United's radar, with reports suggesting that their interest in him was independent of their pursuit of Branthwaite. However, Bayern were holding out for a deal worth around £60 million, while United were only willing to pay half that amount, approximately £30 million.
It was shaping up to be a busy summer for Manchester United, as they looked to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. Fans eagerly awaited to see who would join the Red Devils and how the team would perform in the upcoming competitions.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
