According to The Guardian, Manchester United are going all out to pursue Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder Manuel Ugarte as the transfer market is about to close. Despite facing Paris Saint-Germain's asking price of up to 50 million pounds, Manchester United has not been in a hurry, but has adopted the strategy of waiting patiently, with a view to forcing the other side to reduce this price before the transfer deadline.
United manager Jens Ten Hagar and sporting director Ashworth's interest in Ugarte is evident, as they see the 23-year-old Uruguayan international as a key figure in strengthening the defensive midfield position in their squad. The two sides have agreed on personal terms which paves the way for Ugarte to join United. However, Paris Saint-Germain's high asking price is the main obstacle to the deal.
For their part, Manchester United are not in a hurry to raise funds by selling their current players but they are also willing to continue listening to offers for players like Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, Anthony, Jadon Sancho and Scott McTominay before the transfer window closes. Fulham have shown a keen interest in McTominay and have submitted an offer of around £20 million, but United are in no rush to accept the offer as they are aware that it is not necessary to raise a transfer fee for Ugarte.
Despite rumors that Sancho could move to Paris Saint-Germain, this has not been officially confirmed and is relatively unlikely to happen either as part of the Ugarte deal or on its own.
United's patient waiting strategy is obviously based on their in-depth knowledge and accurate judgment of the transfer market. They believe that with the transfer deadline approaching, Paris Saint-Germain may lower their asking price for Ugarte due to time pressure. Once that price becomes more reasonable, United will move quickly to complete a move that will be crucial to the team's future.
Ugarte's situation at Paris Saint-Germain also adds a bit of confidence to Manchester United's waiting strategy. Ugarte was reportedly not in the squad for Paris Saint-Germain's 4-1 win over Le Havre in their Ligue 1 opener. The decision could mean that his future at Paris Saint-Germain is uncertain, thus increasing the likelihood of United signing him.
