Manchester United faces worsening defensive problems with a key player sidelined for the Premier League start. Despite this setback, the club’s fifth summer signing is gaining momentum as the price drops, bringing optimism to Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Manchester United’s defensive problems get worse as a key player is out for the Premier League start
Manchester United fans were excited when the team beat Real Madrid to sign young defender Leny Yoro from Lille this summer. However, their joy was short-lived as Yoro injured himself during a pre-season match against Arsenal. The club has confirmed that the 18-year-old will be out for three months.
United will also be without Rasmus Hojlund until late September. The Danish international was injured in a pre-season game against Arsenal, leaving manager Erik ten Hag with only new signing Joshua Zirkzee as the team’s sole natural striker for the early matches.
The Dutch manager played captain Bruno Fernandes as a striker in Saturday’s Community Shield match against Manchester City. Although they lost in the penalty shootout, Bruno performed well in the role and assisted Alejandro Garnacho during the game.
United needs to find backup players in the current transfer market to replace the injured ones. Until these players return, Ten Hag might use existing squad members to fill those roles.
Luke Shaw will be absent for United’s first few matches
According to the club’s announcement, Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw will be out for the start of the Premier League season because of a calf injury. This season, Shaw was expected to be a crucial part of Ten Hag’s defense. He also missed much of last season due to a muscle injury, appearing in only 13 games for the Red Devils.
He was left out of United’s pre-season squad because he was on holiday after representing his country in the Euro campaign. He also missed the Community Shield match against Manchester City, where Ten Hag used Lisandro Martinez as the left-back. The club anticipates his return after the first international break, and he is currently focusing on his rehabilitation.
United could face major issues in defense due to several injuries among their defenders. The club has yet to confirm when Victor Lindelof will return, as he was also absent from the match against Manchester City. The Dutch manager wants to sign a new center-back and may strengthen the defense with additional players this summer.
Manchester United’s fifth summer signing gains momentum as the price is reduced, leaving Ratcliffe thrilled
Manchester United are getting closer to signing Manuel Ugarte after his agent arrived in England for discussions. PSG had to lower their demands for two reasons, bringing Sir Jim Ratcliffe nearly to his fifth summer transfer.
The Red Devils have set ambitious goals this summer as the British billionaire aims to restore Manchester United to its former glory in English and European football. Although they won the FA Cup last season, which provided some shine to an otherwise disappointing year, Ratcliffe understands that they cannot afford another season like the one where they finished a record-low eighth in the Premier League.
Ratcliffe has invested heavily to help the club regain its status among the elite, spending nearly £150 million on four new players. Joshua Zirkzee was the first to join, followed by Leny Yoro—two promising young European talents that fit the profile Ratcliffe is targeting.
The Red Devils had to wait a bit longer for their third and fourth signings, but, much like Manchester trams, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui arrived almost simultaneously in a triumphant double announcement on Tuesday night.
United still needs to be done, as they’re exploring a deal for a former Chelsea defender to strengthen an area of concern.
But a big boost might be coming, as super-agent Jorge Mendes is in England trying to move two of his top clients: Joao Felix to Chelsea and Ugarte to United.
Man Utd transfers: Two factors shift the Manuel Ugarte deal in Ratcliffe’s favor
The Uruguayan star has been targeted by the club for several weeks as the perfect addition to strengthen United’s midfield.
After sporting director Dan Ashworth had two offers rejected, United might likely miss out on the deal. Paris Saint-Germain was holding firm on their €60 million (£51.3 million) asking price, which Ratcliffe believed was too steep for a player they wanted to offload.
United’s patient strategy has worked, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the 23-year-old is no longer part of the Ligue 1 champions’ plans and has been given permission to leave.
Reports from Uruguay now indicate that Ugarte has expressed a strong desire to leave PSG swiftly. This has prompted the French club to reconsider their pricing, as the Red Devils have made it clear they won’t meet the current demands.
As a result, it is reported that a transfer agreement is getting closer, with PSG thought to have reduced their demands and Ugarte actively pushing to join Man Utd.
The player and the club have already agreed on personal terms. To complete the deal, United must finalize the fee and pass the medical.
It needs to be clarified how much the fee will be reduced. Still, TEAMtalk reports that a compromise of around £40 million plus add-ons is being considered.
PSG reportedly keeps the player out of first-team training while they work on the deal. This has led to optimism in Uruguay about the player, who was recently named the country’s top performer at this summer’s Copa America.
While waiting to finalize the deal for Ugarte, United have considered several other options, including Sander Berge, former loanee Sofyan Amrabat, and recently, Nottingham Forest’s Danilo Oliviera.
Ugarte has always been their top choice, and it looks like a deal is close, which will greatly please Ratcliffe.
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