Manchester United are willing to accept a financial loss on Manuel Ugarte to move him on this summer.
According to The Sun, the midfielder has been deemed surplus as Michael Carrick reshapes his squad. It marks a swift fall for a player signed less than two years ago.
The numbers underline the disappointment. United paid an initial £42.3m to bring Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, with the deal potentially rising higher.
He has since struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.
His game time tells the story. Ugarte started just 10 matches across all competitions last season. Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro became Carrick’s preferred pairing in the second half of the campaign, leaving the Uruguayan on the fringes.
Manchester United ready to sell Ugarte at a loss in midfield overhaul
United now face a balancing act. They would need around £25.38m to avoid a loss under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
The club, though, believe they can absorb a deficit given last year’s £40m sale of Alejandro Garnacho counted as pure profit.
The bigger hurdle may be wages. Ugarte earns a reported £120,000 a week, a figure that could deter potential suitors.
Galatasaray and AC Milan have shown interest but are yet to meet United’s asking price.
There is a calculated strategy at play. United do not want to hawk Ugarte around, wary that openly touting him would only drive his value down further.
As a result, a scenario in which he stays as a squad option cannot be ruled out.
His exit is part of a wider clear-out. Casemiro has already left at the end of his contract, while Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia have also moved on.
Selling Ugarte would help fund a third midfield signing to follow Éderson and Mateus Fernandes.
Ugarte, currently at the World Cup with Uruguay, has endured a quiet tournament, drawing with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.
