Manchester United may have a clear path to appoint Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte as the third signing of the inaugural INEOS transfer window. PSG have reportedly completed a deal for Benfica teenager Joao Neves, which would push Ugarte further down Luis Enrique’s pecking order and closer to the exit door.
United are believed to have named the 23-year-old as their priority midfield target as Erik ten Hag seeks blood alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
But PSG were reportedly reluctant to part with Ugarte for less than £59m, a year after signing him from Sporting Lisbon in a £51m deal.
That position could soon be replaced or at least softened, with the Ligue 1 champions set to secure an interesting midfield signing.
According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG have reached an agreement with Benfica for Neves for a constant £50 million plus an additional £9 million.
As part of the deal, Renato Sanches will return to Benfica, where he graduated from the club’s academy in 2014 before completing a £29. 5 million move to Bayern Munich two years later.
The report claims that Neves will travel to Paris to undergo a medical this week before officially joining a PSG player.
At just 19 years old, Neves is widely regarded as one of the most talented young midfielders in Europe and has been linked with United in the past.
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But this summer the Red Devils have made a deal for Ugarte and it is said that they have already agreed non-public conditions with the Uruguayan international.
Neves’ arrival at the Parc des Princes may be a major breakthrough, as PSG might have to balance their accounts for additional entries.
The prospect of having even fewer opportunities than in his first year with the Parisians may also prompt Ugarte to push harder for an exit.
However, United would possibly have to make the sale themselves to lose enough money to fund a move amid monetary constraints imposed through the Premier League’s Sustainability and Profit Rules (PSR).
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INEOS has overseen four senior outings this summer, raising just under £50 million from Mason Greenwood, Willy Kambwala, Donny van de Beek and Alvaro Fernandez.
Casemiro, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen are in the showcase, and any of the 3 will be key to the arrival of a new midfielder to the U-16s.
McTominay lately seems most likely to leave due to lack of interest in Casemiro and Eriksen. Fulham and Galatasaray are among his suitors.
But even if United have to wait to pick Ugarte, Neves’ move can be a big contribution.
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