Manchester United have plans to overhaul their midfield this summer and Juventus are understood to be eyeing up Manuel Ugarte, who has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 26, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Manuel Ugarte looks likely to leave Manchester United in the summer(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Manchester United are ready to part ways with Manuel Ugarte this summer with Juventus lurking in the background after tracking the Uruguay star from his time at Sporting Lisbon.
Ugarte, 24, was signed late in the summer transfer window of 2024 to enhance United's engine room but has failed to ignite at Old Trafford. And with Ugarte starting just seven times in the Premier League this season, it now seems likely he will follow Casemiro out of the club at the end of the season as part of another midfield overhaul.
With United looking at the likes of Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali ahead of the summer transfer window, they are willing to sell Ugarte for a slight loss at £35million according to Corriere Dello Sport - and that could open the door for Juventus.
The Italian giants are long-term admirers of Ugarte and believe that qualifying for the Champions League would put them in pole position to land him.
Manchester United are understood to have paid PSG an initial fee of £42.1m to bring Ugarte to Old Trafford just under two years ago as part of a package that could have yielded the French champions more than £50m if all add-ons were met.
Raising funds will be on the agenda for United regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League and inherit the riches that come hand in hand with a spot in Europe's premier competition.
Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United celebrates his goal with Casemiro (left) during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg football match between Manchester United (Man U) and Olympique Lyonnais
Ugarte is expected to follow Casemiro out of Old Trafford(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
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Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund are expected to complete permanent moves after joining Barcelona and Napoli on loan last year, while Casemiro has already announced he will be leaving. Other fringe players like Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana, who was also loaned out, are likely to be made available, too.
On the incoming front, midfield will be the priority for a club who have enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance under the leadership of Michael Carrick, who has positioned himself as a genuine contender to stay as the team's head coach long-term.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Nottingham Forest FC and Fenerbahce SK at City Ground on February 26, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Elliot Anderson is a summer target for Manchester United(Image: Gareth Copley, Getty Images)
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As well as courting the likes of Anderson and Tonali, United are also staying mindful when it comes to targets who could be acquired for more reasonable transfer fees, including Southampton's £20m-rated Shea Charles. With Casemiro and Ugarte both likely to depart, at least two midfield signings could be on the agenda.
United are also poised to enter the market for a left-sided attacker as they move away from the back three shape that Ruben Amorim favoured during his tenure.
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