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Luckhurst: INEOS concede they may have no choice but to U-turn on one Red’s future after latest transfer developments

While Manchester United chiefs are doing their utmost to offload Manuel Ugarte this summer, there is an acceptance that no suitors may come forward.

As a result, United are, according to Samuel Luckhurst, preparing for the reasonable possibility that the player stays beyond deadline day.

Manuel Ugarte: The state of play

INEOS have already conceded they would have to take a sizeable loss on Ugarte, having agreed a package worth £50.5 million when signing him from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024.

However, there were still hopes that interested clubs would make themselves known pretty much as soon as the campaign ended, which has yet to be the case.

Appearances Starts Unused Minutes played

7 1 9 155

Ugarte’s record under Michael Carrick, courtesy of Transfermarkt

The 25-year-old did garner interest from Ajax and Galatasaray back in January, but United ruled out the possibility of a mid-season sale.

They may now rue that decision, as neither of the sides have reapproached to try and revive their pursuits.

Ugarte is currently representing Uruguay at the World Cup and has started both group-stage fixtures thus far, with Marcelo Bielsa’s team drawing twice to Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

United will be crossing their fingers and hoping that movement over the midfielder’s future ramps up when his international duties have concluded, as he can then hold concrete talks with clubs.

Aside from Ugarte: What else are United doing on the market?

Elsewhere, the Reds have already sealed a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson, but his delayed Brazil call-up means his medical has had to be put on hold for the time being.

With INEOS now resigned to the fact that Elliot Anderson is Manchester City-bound, they have made Mateus Fernandes their first-choice Premier League-proven target.

A third signing in the middle of the park will likely hinge on whether Ugarte departs.