Manchester United handed boost as club are ready to let midfielder leave on loan with buy option: Reports
Manchester United have reportedly received a boost in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Manuel Ugarte in the ongoing summer transfer window.
After achieving their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season, the Red Devils are currently on a mission to revamp their squad. They have signed Leny Yoro in a potential £59 million switch and snapped up Joshua Zirkzee for over £36 million so far this summer.
Now, according to reputed French publication L'Equipe, Manchester United are set to make progress in the race to sign Ugarte ahead of the next term. After weeks of discussions, PSG are now willing to part ways with the holding midfielder on a loan deal this summer.
PSG, who signed Ugarte for around £51 million from Sporting CP last summer, are looking for a loan fee to let the Uruguayan leave. They are also keen to have a buy option included in the potential deal this year.
Should Ugarte move to Erik ten Hag's side this summer, he would pop up as a key first-team starter for them. He would likely push Casemiro further down the team's pecking order and partner Kobbie Mainoo.
Ugarte, whose PSG contract is set to expire in June 2028, has started 27 of his 37 appearances across competitions for his club. The 23-year-old has provided three assists, all in just 25 Ligue 1 matches, so far.
Fabrizio Romano asserts no club pulled out of race to sign Manchester United defender
Last Saturday, Leny Yoro sustained a foot injury in his team's 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal. Following the defender's injury, a number of reports insisted that the likes of Real Madrid and PSG pulled out of the transfer race owing to the ex-LOSC Lille centre-back's fragility.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano rubbished the latest claims about the 18-year-old Manchester United centre-back. He stated (h/t United In Focus):
"Manchester United have all the guarantees on how the physical situation is of Leny Yoro, they are not worried in the long term. He's been really unlucky in that friendly game. In general, the medical tests were absolutely perfect."
Sharing further thoughts on the transfer saga, Romano concluded:
"Reports of other clubs pulling out of the race for Leny Yoro because of the physical condition of the player is something I can guarantee is not the case. All the clubs wanted to sign Yoro... Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Real Madrid, of course. [None of the] clubs pulled out. That is absolutely not the case. Yoro has been really unlucky, it's not an injury that depends on the player."
Yoro is reportedly set to be out of action for around three months.