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Sources close to discussions between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United over a deal for Manuel Ugarte believe that an agreement is more likely to be found closer to transfer deadline day.
The Red Devils have now shifted their focus to improving the midfield after investing heavily in the striker position and in particular, the defence.
The club’s main priority target this summer in the defensive midfield role is Ugarte and they have spent weeks chasing the player, but have still not reached a resolution with the Parisian club.
In July, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported that the Uruguayan had given the green light to a move to Old Trafford and agreed personal terms with the club.
There seemed that a deal was inching ever closer but these reports came to nothing. In fact, at start of August, news broke from reliable sources that United had walked away from discussions due to PSG’s refusal to lower their demands.
But United have clearly not given up on the Uruguayan and reports earlier this week claimed that that Ugarte’s agent, Jorge Mendes, had arrived in England to carry out transfer talks over the future of Ugarte.
Today, The Athletic‘s Laurie Whitwell reports that “despite United’s insistence that French champions Paris Saint-Germain’s €60million asking price for the 23-year-old Uruguay international midfielder is too high, people connected to the situation report Mendes is trying to engineer a deal.”
Crucially, there is a belief that “a resolution is still possible closer to the August 30 transfer deadline”.
Whitwell also points out that Mendes was instrumental in the deal to bring Leny Yoro to Old Trafford earlier this summer.
The deal for Ugarte could be facilitated by PSG’s interest in United’s Jadon Sancho.
The Englishman is reportedly “willing” to join the French champions and this could facilitate an agreement between the two European giants for Ugarte, or even a swap deal.
United reportedly do have backup options for Ugarte but he clearly remains their priority. With the player keen to come to Manchester and PSG needing to trim their squad, it does seem just a matter of time before a deal can be struck.
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