"There is a lot of talk" - Manchester United target's agent confirms Liverpool's interest
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who is believed to be on English giants Manchester United's transfer wishlist, is also being monitored by fellow Premier League outfit Liverpool. The Uruguayan's agent confirmed the Reds' interest, adding that there are multiple suitors for his client's signature.
Ugarte was linked with Liverpool in the summer of 2023 before he made the move from Sporting CP to the Parc des Princes for a reported £51.1 million. His debut season at the club, however, did not go according to plan, being switched in and out of the starting lineup by manager Luis Enrique.
The midfielder made three assists in 37 appearances across all competitions in the 2023-24 season and is currently on duty with Uruguay at the 2024 Copa America. Recently, there have been rumors of a potential opening bid worth £25 million made by Manchester United, which has allegedly been rejected by PSG.
Ugarte's agent, Jorge Chijane, addressed all the speculation surrounding his client's future in conversation with Portuguese daily O Jogo.
Despite the 23-year-old's destination being uncertain at the moment, Chijane did confirm that an exit from PSG was on the cards. He said:
"Liverpool? There is a lot of talk, but it is not the only club, there are others. There is much talk, but I am still not sure about the club. There are many possibilities on the table. It’s almost certain that he won’t stay, it’s sure he’ll leave. I believe the situation will be resolved."
Fabrizio Romano reveals Manchester United's advantage in race for PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Manchester United's strong relationship with PSG could give them an edge over Liverpool in their pursuit of midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
In his daily briefing, Romano refuted the reports of a £25 million bid tabled by the Red Devils and rejected by PSG. He also added that Ugarte was not the only topic of discussion between the two clubs, with several players likely to be on the move in the summer.
The 31-year-old wrote (via GiveMeSport):
"Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have had contacts to discuss several players, but from what I'm hearing, they have not presented an official bid to PSG for Manuel Ugarte. United and PSG have a good relationship, and although Ugarte was one of the topics, he was not the only one."
"Still, United know that several players like Casemiro and Christian Eriksen could be on the move this summer, while they still have to decide what they want to do with Sofyan Amrabat, and so midfield is an area they're looking at, and Ugarte is a player they appreciate," Romano concluded.