Manchester United are considering a £16m move to bring back an ex-player, with reports highlighting concerns over Manuel Ugarte’s position. The midfielder has expressed dissatisfaction with his current role, adding to United’s ongoing lineup challenges.
Man Utd Eye £16m Move for Ex-Star as Clause Emerges
Manchester United are considering triggering their buyback option for Alvaro Fernandez, the full-back sold to Benfica last summer for a small fee.
Fernandez spent the latter part of last season on loan in Lisbon before securing a permanent move for £5m.
After several standout performances at the Stadium of Light, he has caught the eye of Barcelona and Real Madrid, according to reports from Portugal, while recent rumors suggest Liverpool scouts have been tracking his development.
United are now questioning whether they made a mistake, contemplating if it’s worth bringing the 21-year-old back to Old Trafford by activating a £16m clause included in the summer deal.
Under pressure, Erik ten Hag finds himself with limited options at full-back due to injuries, and could have used Fernandez. Left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are long-term absentees, forcing Diogo Dalot to move from the right side of defence. Additionally, Noussair Mazraoui is expected to be out after undergoing minor heart surgery earlier this week.
United have earned only eight points from their first seven league matches, with only newly promoted Southampton scoring fewer goals.
A board meeting at INEOS headquarters in London on Tuesday did not result in a final decision regarding Ten Hag’s future. However, he remains in a “last chance” situation, with the rest of October expected to be crucial.
United resume play against Brentford on October 19, followed by a trip to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League. They will then face West Ham in the league before rounding off the month with an EFL Cup round of 16 clash against Leicester City.
“We are all on board together, on one page; we know what we are working through. It’s a long-term process,” Ten Hag said last week amid fresh doubts around his future.
“We are all on board together, on one page; we know what we are working through. It’s a long-term process,” Ten Hag said last week amid fresh doubts around his future.
Man Utd Warned Over Manuel Ugarte’s Position: ‘Lacking’
Manuel Ugarte has stated that he is not a defender after being played out of position in Uruguay’s 1-0 loss to Peru.
Ugarte has played five matches for Manchester United since his £51million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of August.
The 23-year-old’s adjustment to English football has been hindered by United’s poor form, with Erik ten Hag’s team sitting in 14th place in the Premier League.
After struggling as a center-back for his country, Ugarte has made it clear that he is not interested in a positional change at his club.
“It was not a good match,” he told ESPN. “We did not play well. It was a shame because I still believe that we are much better, but the match was ugly for us. The dressing room was strong before the match, and the atmosphere was nice, but little by little, we faded, and we did not show good things in the match.
“Everyone can play and has the conditions to do so, but many times, when changing players it takes a little [time] to adapt. It is not an excuse either, the team’s performance dropped. We need to go deeper, as we saw against Peru, we have to keep working.
“Honestly, I felt good with the ball, but I lack certain things as a defender. These are things that always enrich a player.”
Ten Hag has a history of playing defensive midfielders in defense for United, having occasionally shifted Casemiro to that role.
Ugarte will look to make an impact in midfield for United on his next chance, having already made just one Premier League start.
That appearance came in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, where the former Sporting Lisbon player struggled to cope.
United will be back in action on Saturday as they host Brentford in the Premier League.
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