Juventus leading Manuel Ugarte race but UCL failure could scupper transfer plans | OneFootball

Juventus have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Manuel Ugarte from Manchester United this summer, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The Turin giants’ interest in Ugarte dates back to his days at Sporting CP, and sporting director Marco Ottolini has personally tracked the 24-year-old during recent international fixtures as Juventus step up their preparations ahead of the summer window.

It is a pursuit that has been building for some time, and all signs now point to the Bianconeri making a concrete move.

Ugarte’s time at Manchester United has effectively hit rock bottom. The Uruguayan has featured sparingly under interim manager Michael Carrick and is no longer considered a key part of the club’s plans.

Even the arrival of his former Sporting CP manager, Ruben Amorim, failed to reignite his United career before Amorim’s own exit from the club. A summer departure now seems inevitable.

Manchester United are open to selling and have set an asking price of around €40 million for the midfielder. Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also reportedly monitoring the situation.

On the face of it, Juventus represent an attractive destination. Head coach Luciano Spalletti reportedly views the defensive midfielder as a good fit for his system.

There is also the added advantage of a strong working relationship between super-agent Jorge Mendes, who represents Ugarte, and Juventus general manager Damien Comolli.

While a move to Serie A remains a strong possibility, Juventus’ ability to complete the deal is thought to hinge on securing Champions League qualification.

Without Champions League football, their financial capacity to meet United’s valuation—and their appeal to the player—significantly declines.

Juventus are currently four points behind Como in the race for fourth place and will look to close that gap to one when they welcome Genoa to the Allianz Stadium on Monday.