Club 'stepping up' transfer interest in £42m Man Utd ace who lost 8 duels vs Wolves

Manchester United are gearing up for a busy winter transfer window, which officially swings open tomorrow.

The window will stay open until 2 February, offering clubs a crucial chance to address weaknesses before the decisive second half of the campaign.

For United, any incoming business is likely to hinge on departures being sanctioned first.

According to Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler, Galatasaray are said to be stepping up their interest in Manuel Ugarte.

The 24-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £42 million.

OGC Nice have also been mentioned as a potential suitor, but Ugarte is understood to be reluctant to join the French outfit.

Departure likely but replacement needed

Ugarte endured a difficult debut season in England, yet hopes were high that a year of Premier League adaptation would spark improvement.

Eighteen months on, it is increasingly hard to argue that he has lived up to the billing that accompanied his arrival.

At his best, Ugarte is a ball-winner, thriving on breaking up play in central areas.

He currently leads all United players in tackles per 90 minutes in the league.

His engine and intensity also make him useful in high-pressing systems that demand constant energy.

However, those strengths come with clear limitations.

The Uruguay international often looks short of confidence in possession and offers very little in the final third.

Rather than progressing play, he tends to recycle the ball safely, rarely attempting incisive passes into advanced areas.

Ugarte put on a superb display against Newcastle United on Boxing Day when he had more freedom to leave his position with Casemiro sitting deep.

He failed to replicate that freshness in his display against Wolves.

He gave away possession 10 times and lost eight duels in 75 minutes.

Signed as a long-term successor to Casemiro, Ugarte now finds himself in a situation where both midfielders could be heading for the exit next summer.

He still has six months to turn the narrative around, but further underwhelming performances may leave United with little choice but to place him on the transfer market.

Stats from Sofascore.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .