Manuel Ugarte is being closely monitored by a European giant ahead of a possible move out of Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to reports.
Manuel Ugarte has endured a challenging start to his Manchester United career after joining the club under Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2024, arriving during a period of inconsistent results for the Reds.
The midfielder has largely remained on the fringes of the starting XI and has struggled to displace the more experienced Casemiro, who has produced strong performances for much of the current campaign.
Ugarte was reunited with Rúben Amorim when the Portuguese coach took charge at the beginning of 2025, having previously worked together at Sporting Lisbon prior to the midfielder’s move to PSG.
However, reports earlier this season revealed that towards the end of last season, Amorim publicly challenged Ugarte in front of his teammates, telling him he no longer recognised the player he had coached in Lisbon.
Galatasaray closely monitoring Ugarte’s situation at Old Trafford
According to Turkish journalist Erol Evcen, Super Lig giants Galatasaray are closely monitoring the Uruguayan’s current problems at United.
The player has started just three games all season – the losses against Grimsby Town, Manchester City, and Brentford – and is a firm outcast at the club compared to the likes of Casemiro.
According to Evcen, he is set to depart United in January amid his lack of minutes, and that the Turkish club will ‘knock on United’s door’ during the mid-season window to discover the costs of a possible deal.
Just 18 months after Ugarte joined from Paris Saint-Germain for £42 million, the club will want to quickly chalk his off the board as a learning curve in the future.
United would have to move midfielder transfer plan forward
It has been widely reported that United are set to sign two midfielders in 2026, though Amorim has stated there are no plans to do so in January, as they want to wait until the summer to pursue their top targets.
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However, if United are to sell Ugarte in January, these plans would have to change. United have Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as their elite midfield options, but others are on their list, too.
One of these is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes. The Brazilian, known to be a friend of Matheus Cunha’s, is reportedly very keen on a move to United, and with the Black Country side facing relegation, may want to secure a move out of the club in January.
Although there is yet to be any official contact between United and Wolves regarding a possible move for Gomes, Ugarte’s departure would almost certinaly trigger a change in stance at Old Trafford.
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