Reports claim Manchester United could explore a swap deal involving a £50million midfielder and a Sunderland player
Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki has been linked with a potential move to Manchester United, with reports suggesting the Premier League giants could explore a swap-style deal involving one of their own players.
According to GiveMeSport, Manchester United are open to parting ways with Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain last summer for a fee in excess of £50million.
Ugarte was expected to play a prominent role at Old Trafford, particularly following the appointment of head coach Ruben Amorim, under whom he previously worked at Sporting CP. However, GiveMeSport report that the midfielder has slipped down the pecking order, prompting United to consider options that would allow them to reshape their midfield.
The report claims United are willing to sanction Ugarte’s departure either on loan or via a permanent transfer and could look to use him as part of a deal to bring Sadiki to Old Trafford. The 21-year-old only joined Sunderland last summer in a deal worth around £15million, but has already attracted interest from a number of clubs due to his performances.
GiveMeSport describe Sadiki as a player who has brought intensity and tactical awareness to Sunderland’s midfield, qualities that have reportedly caught the attention of United’s recruitment staff. The DR Congo international is said to fit the profile being targeted by INEOS, with his energy, mobility and physical presence viewed as key strengths.
The report also suggests that Sadiki is being considered as a more attainable alternative to Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is valued significantly higher at around £100million. Any potential deal involving Sadiki, however, would be dependent on Sunderland’s stance, with the Black Cats under no pressure to sell following his recent arrival on Wearside. As things stand, there is no indication of a formal approach being made, with the situation described as one to monitor rather than an advanced negotiation.
What has Régis Le Bris said ahead of West Ham?
Sunderland’s win leaves them sitting in a very impressive ninth position in the Premier League table, but Le Bris insists no one will be getting carried away as attentions turn to West Ham, who beat Spurs over the weekend. “Every game is important, and winning in the Premier League is not easy,” Le Bris said.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join ourSAFC WhatsApp channel.
“I think we have to remind ourselves how tough it is to win a game in this league. This one, I'm really pleased because it was with maturity and with quality on the pitch. We solved progressively the whole problem of the game and created chances. We might have scored even one or two more goals at the end, and it's a good three points. We keep going step by step. We have seven more to win to reach [out first target] of 40 points.
“And I repeat, it's so difficult to win points in this league. So just step by step. We'll have another opportunity at West Ham but it will be a tough gam and we'll see. If we can get three points, we'll be happy, and then it will be 36. So it's not achieved once again. So we go step by step, hopefully with consistency, maturity and then we'll see.”
Continue Reading