Michael Carrick is barely settled into the manager’s job at Manchester United, and already the midfield rebuild is getting expensive. According to The Sun, the club is prepared to sell Manuel Ugarte even if it means taking a loss on the transfer fee they paid just two years ago.
United brought Ugarte in from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 for an initial £42.3 million, with add-ons that could push the total past £50 million. That was a significant investment for a player known primarily as a ball-winner. But the Uruguayan international has never fully locked down a starting spot. Last season he started only 10 matches. That tells you pretty much everything about where he stands in Carrick’s plans.
The problem isn’t just the fee. Ugarte’s wages reportedly sit around £120,000 a week, and that complicates any potential move. Senior sources at Old Trafford are apparently aware that his salary could scare off buyers, or at least limit the pool of clubs willing to take him on. United are not actively shopping him around because they don’t want to tip their hand. That makes sense. Once a club openly labels a player surplus, the offers tend to shrink fast.
There is a realistic chance Ugarte stays past the transfer window. United would listen to offers, but they are not desperate enough to accept a lowball bid just to move him. It’s a waiting game, really. If the right offer comes in, fine. If not, Ugarte sticks around and competes for minutes.
Part of a bigger shift under Carrick
This feels like more than just a one-off sale. United have already moved on from Casemiro, and Sky Sports reported recently that Ugarte could be part of a larger summer clear-out. The club has been linked with midfielders like Mateus Fernandes and Felix Nmecha, which suggests Carrick wants more technical control and energy in the middle of the pitch. Ugarte is a destroyer, not a creator. That might simply not fit what Carrick is trying to build.
United’s stance is pretty straightforward. Ugarte isn’t a bad player. He just might not be the right player for this manager. The club is willing to listen, but a deal only happens if someone can cover both a transfer fee and those wages. That’s a fairly narrow window, and it means this story could drag on.
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