Pundit Gary Neville says he expects Manuel Ugarte to make way when Manchester United return to the transfer market to strengthen their midfield options in the summer.
Neville said he expects United to target another central midfielder at the end of the season as part of a broader squad rebuild. In his view, any new arrival in that area could push Ugarte down the pecking order despite the Uruguayan’s work rate and defensive qualities.
Ugarte, who joined Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain, has been used primarily as a holding midfielder tasked with shielding the defence and breaking up opposition attacks. While Neville acknowledged the midfielder’s energy and tackling ability, he questioned whether the current midfield balance provides enough creativity and control for a side aiming to compete at the top of the Premier League.
Neville argued that United’s midfield still lacks the technical authority and tempo-setting presence required to dominate games consistently. As a result, he believes the club’s recruitment team will prioritise strengthening that department once the summer window opens.
He explained: ‘I think Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are doing a great job right now for Michael Carrick, however, every United fan in this stadium knows that’s going to be nowhere near enough when United start playing in the Champions League next season, which is more than likely they will, and they don’t get knocked out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in the first round.
‘They’re going to need three or four really good central midfielders. At the moment, they’ve got Mainoo who you can buy into, but you can’t really look at any of the others and think that’s going to work.
‘Casemiro is leaving and I think Ugarte will leave so they need two really good central midfield players. Probably one that’s more positional, maybe like a Michael Carrick-type, and one that is more of a destroyer.’
The eight-time Premier League winner went on: ‘Basically, they need those two players and that’s the next area of focus. I do think the back needs looking at but I think the midfield will be the real focus in the summer transfer window.’
With the summer transfer window approaching, Manchester United are expected to assess multiple areas of the squad. Midfield remains one of the positions most frequently linked with potential reinforcements, and Neville’s comments reflect the broader expectation that further changes could be on the horizon at Old Trafford.
Whether Ugarte ultimately retains his starting place may depend on both his performances in the coming months and the type of midfielder United choose to pursue in the market
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