Mauricio Pochettino is looking to sign a new central midfielder at Chelsea in the summer transfer window with N'Golo Kante's future still uncertain ahead of next season
According to Fabrizio Romano, Pochettino has already approved a move for Ugarte as he looks to add a new midfielder to the Chelsea squad. The Blues are now pushing to sign the Uruguay international with talks planned with the player and Sporting CP.
Uruguayan transfer insider Franco Fernandez claimed last week that the Blues are the frontrunners to acquire Ugarte's services and that a deal could be thrashed out as early as this week. He tweeted: "Manuel Ugarte was on the bench [against Vizela], he did not see minutes waiting for his future for the transfer period - his arrival at Chelsea could be confirmed next week."
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has already admitted it is hard for the Portuguese club to keep hold of Ugarte this summer with clubs across Europe registering an interest in signing the midfielder. The 22-year-old has a £52million release clause in his contract which PSG and Chelsea are willing to match, according to the Express.
"I cannot comment on this issue, because it is beyond me. Now, we know that it is difficult to keep players like Ugarte," Amorim told Ojogo.
"Not just one club is interested, but several. Our objective is to sell, knowing that we missed the Champions League and it makes everything more difficult. I know what I want for the team and I have already conveyed that to the management."
Ugarte has been compared to Casemiro following his performances in a holding midfield role for Sporting this season - matching the United star in a number of key metrics which could see him become the perfect replacement for Kante if the Frenchman leaves Chelsea.
The youngster can progress forward with his ball carrying - he often drives through the middle to create overloads by attempting an impressive 8.4 dribbles per 90 minutes. The Sporting star is exceptional at recovering the ball, especially with his tackling, attempting an average of more than eight recoveries per 90 minutes, the highest in the Primeira Liga.
Jummer
1
While Case himself is still signed to replace himself as he's still the best.
biblo2
0
I hate AF about comparing players
19646244(deleted)
2
He is NOWHERE NEAR KANTE!
stambulielia11
2
Poch if you want to do well at Chelsea please don't sell Kant'e and restore him back to his best position as a dm.
cukbdklryz
2
pochettino you are welcome but pleas made thing good cose our team is so beaten for long now we need any improvenment from you!
Mahrez87
1
pls Man united go quickly and sign Kante!!!
momenhuda
0
Kante has double engine so he is ireplacable
If he fully fit but now he aged, he cant recover injury.
momenhuda
0
yes!N Golo Kante is too injury prone.
Age is the matter, young Kant & Hazard recover injury so quickly but now their age not easy to recover.
momenhuda
0
still no news about selling Chelsea players
Out of form, injured and aged player selling not easy.
momenhuda
0
Chelsea can sell every single midfielder we have but selling N golo Kante is error of the highest order because all our midfielders joint together cannot match one single fully-fit Kante.
Who buy 32+ years aged injured player? Chelsea cant sell him, no worry.
zembdimpsy
0
Chelsea can sell every single midfielder we have but selling N golo Kante is error of the highest order because all our midfielders joint together cannot match one single fully-fit Kante.
yes!N Golo Kante is too injury prone.
jodcdklnos
1
Franco....😍😍😍😍 with tank build, 🤣🤣
Echee27
0
Chelsea can sell every single midfielder we have but selling N golo Kante is error of the highest order because all our midfielders joint together cannot match one single fully-fit Kante.
You people are not thinking at all, can’t you understand that Kante has entered 30s and he has started developing too much injury, this is the right time to cash in on him and replace him with younger one
nebbiklorz
1
Kanye’s play has changed since the injury!
Cuueikrtyz
4
Non of them will be compared to kante
Football_only
2
Chelsea should not allow to leave Lampard..when u have 30 players in squad,then u will place two teams parallaly,one will be managed by Mauricio and another by lampard
jetbklmnyz
6
Chelsea can sell every single midfielder we have but selling N golo Kante is error of the highest order because all our midfielders joint together cannot match one single fully-fit Kante.
Limabcdlu
3
still no news about selling Chelsea players
Yeuaenprsu
6
Kante has double engine so he is ireplacable
Cedcdmost
1
they have started again, they will go rubbish players again