Man United extended their unbeaten run against Spurs on Saturday but they should have left the capital with all three points.
Ugarte battles for possession
Ugarte battles for possession
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If it weren't for the exorbitant £52million fee paid to Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 there's every chance Manchester United would have been looking to move Manuel Ugarte on last summer.
A reunion with Ruben Amorim has failed to ignite the Uruguayan midfielder's Old Trafford career and he is now firmly on the fringes of first team action. Ugarte has started just two Premier League games this season - both of which were defeats and one of which was due to Casemiro's suspension.
After a stuttering first year at Old Trafford United were always going to stand by the midfielder in the hope he would find his feet in his second season at the club, but glimpses of the quality they shelled out big money on over a year ago have been few and far between.
Ugarte's miserable season continued on Saturday. He should have done better in the build-up to Tottenham's equaliser, allowing Wilson Odobert to breeze past him before Mathys Tel was teed up to make it 1-1. Had Ugarte not replaced Casemiro just 12 minutes earlier it's possible the goal would have been prevented.
Casemiro may not have the engine he once did but he's as experienced as they come and the five-time Champions League winner likely would have had the defensive nous to bring down Odobert and prevent the danger from escalating.
Without the more tranquil setting of the Europa League to offer Casemiro regular game time this season, the Brazilian was expected to spend much of the campaign kicking his heels on the bench after United failed to offload him. Three months into the season and he is one of the most influential players in the team.
If United could have picked one of either Casemiro or Ugarte to flourish this term there is no doubt they would have plumped for the latter. United were all set to bring Casemiro's stay at the club to an end next summer but it looks increasingly likely that they could in fact keep him at Old Trafford for another season. Ineos may not like the thought of offering a player who will be 34 next February a new deal but it must be considered.
And what does that mean for Ugarte? United are expected to focus on signing a new midfielder next summer, just two years on from the arrival of Ugarte, the player who was meant to ease their midfield woes for the foreseeable future.
Players who arrive from foreign shores should always be allowed time to adapt and settle into life in England, but Ugarte has been at Old Trafford for over 14 months now and there has been little to suggest that £52m will one day look like value for money.
With a new midfielder set to be signed next summer United may well look to move on one of their current options.
Casemiro currently looks like the better option when choosing who to keep out of him and Ugarte.
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