Manchester United are on the verge of finalizing a €50m (£42.29m) agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The transfer arrangement also includes an additional €10m (£8.46m) in performance-based incentives. Ugarte is anticipated to fly to Manchester for a medical examination as soon as Tuesday, marking the potential conclusion of a transfer saga that has linked the 23-year-old with the Red Devils throughout the summer.
Ugarte initially joined PSG just a year ago from Sporting Lisbon for a reported €60m fee. During his time in Paris, Ugarte made 37 appearances under Luis Enrique, contributing to PSG’s 12th Ligue 1 title with 25 league matches to his name. Both Manchester United and PSG are satisfied with the terms of the deal, which also includes a 10% sell-on clause negotiated by the French club.
The completion of Ugarte’s move hinges on Scott McTominay’s expected transfer to Napoli. The Scotland international midfielder is set to depart Old Trafford for €30m (£25.37m). McTominay is traveling to Italy for a medical, with confidence within the United camp that the deal will be finalized soon. United officials acknowledge that homegrown players are valuable assets under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, which incentivize their sales.
Though McTominay made 32 league appearances last season, scoring seven goals and even starting in the FA Cup final win against Manchester City, manager Erik ten Hag could not assure him of a regular spot in the starting lineup. The 27-year-old, who first attended a United soccer school at the age of five, now looks set to continue his career in Serie A, following months of negotiations with interested clubs.
Once completed, Ugarte will be Manchester United’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window. His arrival will push United’s total spending beyond the £190m mark under Erik ten Hag’s management. Since his appointment in 2022, Ten Hag has overseen nearly £600m worth of player acquisitions as he continues to reshape the squad. United identified Ugarte as a key target early in the transfer window, and negotiations have persisted over the summer months.
Ugarte’s stock rose significantly after his standout performances in the Copa America, where he was named in the tournament’s team of the tournament after Uruguay reached the final, ultimately losing to Argentina. His arrival is expected to bolster United’s midfield options as they seek to build on their success from last season and challenge for more silverware in the upcoming campaign.
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