Manchester United have lodged a bid for Paris Saint-Germain star Manuel Ugarte and have received an instant response.
The Uruguayan midfielder is among the Red Devils’ top targets for the summer window. Erik ten Hag is keen to add to the centre of the park during the off-season.
According to L'Equipe, Man United have tabled an undisclosed offer for Ugarte. It is suggested that the French giants have rejected that opening bid. But a deal is not totally dead. PSG are reportedly open to a sale and would listen to improved offers.
Ugarte only joined the club last summer in a £52m move from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. The 23-year-old made 37 appearances in all competitions for Luis Enrique’s side as they won Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League semi-finals.
Speaking at the end of the campaign, he expressed his desire to stay in the French capital but notably did not rule out a move away. Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport, Ugarte said: “We’ll see. I would love to [stay at PSG]. We’ll have to see. For now, I’m here and enjoying the end of the season.”
Ugarte’s links with the Red Devils are not the first time that he has been at the heart of Premier League interest. Chelsea were also keen on signing him from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
The Blues even went as far as activating the £52m release clause written into his contract and offered him an eight-year contract to move to Stamford Bridge. But Blues chiefs pulled out of the agreement, giving PSG a free run at Ugarte’s services as a result.
He has since revealed that Chelsea’s decision was a blessing in disguise. Speaking to Canal Supporters in December, Ugarte said: "I am 100% convinced that coming here [to PSG] was the best choice.
“PSG, for me, is something incredible. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I am here because before coming I did not imagine the scale of this club, its worldwide fame, its supporters… I am enjoying this incredible experience enormously while focusing on achieving our objectives.”
He could now actually become a Man United player should they up their bid. The Red Devils also face a decision over whether to up their offer for Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite.
United lodged an opening £35m offer for the defender’s services. But that was rejected out of hand by the Toffees who want closer to £70m.