Manchester United eye “brilliant” £33m Dutch international as £59 million deal stalls

Manchester United have reportedly turned their eye to a “brilliant” £33 million Dutch international as their pursuit of Manuel Ugarte stalls.

Manchester United have made an impressive start to the summer transfer window, signing Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36 million and acquiring 18-year-old centre-back Leny Yoro from Lille for £52 million.

The signing of Yoro has been particularly praised, with United and INEOS earning accolades for outbidding Real Madrid, signalling their strong future ambitions.

The club is also aiming to reinforce their midfield and has been closely linked with Paris St. Germain’s 23-year-old Manuel Ugarte. Ugarte recently played a crucial role in Uruguay’s third-place finish at the 2024 Copa America tournament.

However, the deal is continuing to stall, with United and PSG far apart in their valuations of the player – while it has been stated that a £59 million transfer fee may be the final point, PSG are currently demanding as much as £70 million this summer.

With this current state of play, CaughtOffside have reported that the club are now looking at “brilliant” 25-year-old PSV midfielder Joey Veerman as a player of interest this summer.

With Ten Hag building a core of Dutch talent across his Old Trafford side, Veerman could fit in fairly easily with the rest of the squad, and with transfermarkt pinning him with a value of around £33 million, he would be a cheaper option to Ugarte.

However, Fabrizio Romano provided an interesting update surrounding the Ugarte deal, explaining that United and PSG could enter into a scenario where the player is initially loaned to United this summer with an obligation to buy him.

“Manuel Ugarte said yes to Man United almost two weeks ago,” Romano recently stated. “He wants to go to United. He agreed on personal terms, and he’s also waiting for May United to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.

“What I’m hearing is that PSG could also be open to a loan with an obligation to buy for Manuel Ugarte, but still an obligation, still a mandatory clause. Not a loan with a buy option, at least at the moment, then we know things can change in the market.

“But at the moment, PSG want an obligation or permanent transfer. And so, Let’s see what’s going to happen, but the player is waiting and still hoping to go to Manchester United, his priority for this summer.”

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