Manchester United are reportedly prepared to sell Manuel Ugarte at a loss this summer, putting the Uruguay midfielder’s Old Trafford future back under immediate transfer scrutiny.
Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 in a deal worth an initial £42.3m, rising above £50m with add-ons, but he has not become a fixed starter in Michael Carrick’s midfield. United are now open to taking a financial hit to move him on, according to a fresh report from The Sun.
The report says Ugarte started only 10 games last season and that his £120,000-a-week salary could be one of the main obstacles to an exit. United have already moved to reshape the wage bill, with Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia among the senior departures.
Why Ugarte’s exit would matter for Carrick’s rebuild
The key point for United is not just the fee. Selling Ugarte would clear another midfield place at a time when Carrick is trying to build a younger, more flexible engine room around the new season’s Champions League demands.
United have already agreed a deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, while further midfield additions remain under discussion. That makes Ugarte’s situation a live squad-planning issue rather than a routine transfer rumour.
For supporters, the concern is obvious. United paid heavily for a specialist ball-winner, but if Carrick does not see him as central to the next phase, an early loss may be judged cleaner than keeping an expensive squad player without a clear role.
