Manchester United are reportedly prepared to accept a financial loss on Manuel Ugarte this summer.
The midfielder’s valuation is now central to Michael Carrick’s midfield rebuild.
Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 in a deal worth £42.3million. That package could rise to £50.75million with add-ons.
His Old Trafford spell has not developed as planned, and the 25-year-old is now being viewed as a possible departure.
The same report says Ugarte’s £120,000-a-week wages are viewed as a major obstacle for potential buyers.
Ugarte Decision Adds Pressure To United Midfield Rebuild
The timing matters because United have already moved decisively in midfield.
Atalanta’s Ederson is lined up as Carrick’s first major addition, while further recruitment is still expected if room is created.
Ugarte’s contract runs until 2029, so United are not forced into a quick sale. That gives the club leverage, but it also leaves them carrying a senior wage for a player who has slipped down the midfield pecking order.
ReadManUtd has already covered how Manuel Ugarte is being targeted by AC Milan as his United exit door opens. This latest update now sharpens the financial side of the decision.
For Carrick, the equation is simple but awkward.
If United can shift Ugarte’s wages and recover enough of the original fee, it would create more flexibility in a window already shaped by Casemiro’s exit.
It could also help fund a sharper and more reliable midfield base.
For now, though, United appear to be balancing two risks: selling low after a poor spell, or carrying an expensive squad player into another season.
