Man Utd’s rivals join the race for ‘unhappy’ Red who wants to leave Carrington | OneFootball

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has attracted the interest of several clubs in Europe, but Newcastle could keep him on the English shores.

The Uruguayan cost the club circa £42 million in addition to bonuses when he made the move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024, but he hasn’t been able to justify this figure.

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Ugarte is said to be unhappy with his current status at Man Utd, as despite Michael Carrick’s limited options in midfield, he still finds himself struggling for playing time. The 44-year-old manager considers him a mere backup for Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro.

Newcastle join Juventus & others in the race for Manuel Ugarte

Luckily for the Montevideo native, his poor Man Utd stint hasn’t repelled all suitors, with several clubs around Europe interested in his services.

According to CaughtOffside, Juventus are leading the race for Ugarte, having identified him as one of their main targets ahead of the upcoming summer transfer campaign.

The Bianconeri’s sporting director, Marco Ottolini, attended the international friendly between Uruguay and Algeria, which took place at the Allianz Stadium in Turin last week, with the intention of scouting a few players, especially Ugarte.

But as the source explains, Juve will face stern competition from other suitors, especially Galatasaray, who already attempted to sign Ugarte in the winter, but to no avail.

Moreover, the report names Man Utd’s historic rivals, Newcastle United, as a potential destination for the former PSG man, perhaps if they end up selling Sandro Tonali or Bruno Guiamaraes. Aston Villa are also part of the chase, while Ajax and Sunderland are considered outsiders.

Man Utd name their price for Ugarte

While Transfermarkt estimates the midfielder’s value at €30 million (£26m), United are reportedly seeking €40 million (£35m)  to part ways with him. So it remains to be seen if they’ll find a club willing to meet this price.

Man Utd are already planning to sign two new midfielders in the summer, one to replace the departing Casemiro, and another to fill the vacancy left by Bruno Fernandes, who resumed his duties in the No.10 role.

But if Ugarte ends up leaving Carrington, the arrival of a third new midfielder might become a necessity, especially with the club planning to compete on various fronts next season.