Man Utd shift their £100 million bid, Ugarte pushed to the sidelines.
Ruben Amorim tentatively finalizes Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro after five unbeaten Premier League matches, while Man Utd prepares for a major January spending spree and targets Carlos Baleba.
A £100 million transfer deal is reshaping Manchester United's midfield. And the player directly affected is Manuel Ugarte – the midfielder who was once highly anticipated when he joined from PSG for around £50 million in 2024, now faces the risk of being left out of the plans.
The £100 million plan and the message to Ugarte
Manchester United are stepping up their pursuit of a midfielder in the January transfer window. The club have approached Nottingham Forest to inquire about Elliot Anderson, with Forest demanding around £100 million – a figure that shows their determination but also makes the deal unpredictable.
Meanwhile, Brighton's Carlos Baleba has emerged as a top priority target. According to sources in Spain, Baleba is a "dream player" that Ruben Amorim and INEOS want to pursue in January. The player is reportedly ready to join Old Trafford if an agreement is reached.
Why did Amorim no longer prioritize Ugarte?
Since Ruben Amorim took over, Manchester United's midfield has always been in an "open" state. Many options have been tested – from Kobbie Mainoo and Ugarte to experienced players – before the manager settled on the most stable pairing: Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
The two have started five consecutive Premier League matches and helped Man Utd maintain their unbeaten run. Although Casemiro is experienced and a good playmaker, his age of 33 means the club's management must prepare a successor plan as early as January.
In that picture, Ugarte's position is becoming increasingly insignificant. He has only started two games this season – a figure that clearly reflects his decline from being a priority for the head coach.
Baleba and his impressive stats make him a good center-back.
From a professional standpoint, Baleba (21 years old) is described as possessing a more comprehensive skill set than Ugarte. According to statistics for the 2025/26 season, he excels in many key indicators: 86% passing accuracy, 54% long passing accuracy, an average of 6.5 duels won per 90 minutes, 1.4 tackles and interceptions, and a 63% successful dribble rate.
These figures demonstrate the ability to connect play, transition, and defend proactively – criteria that align with Man Utd's operational requirements under Amorim, where the central midfielder not only disrupts the opponent's play but also initiates attacks immediately after winning the ball.
A signature to be the centerpiece.
In modern football, especially at big clubs, transfer fees often determine the priorities in the squad. A player who receives a £100 million investment will be built as the central figure of the project. Conversely, a name that falls far behind on the shortlist – like Ugarte's situation now – has little chance of turning things around if the club completes a deal in that price range.
January and the dividing line for Ugarte's future.
Man Utd are actively exploring the market, with two options: a £100 million target at City Ground and a "dream" prospect at Brighton, considered by Amorim and INEOS. While the club may try to negotiate a lower fee than Brighton's asking price, the message is clear: they are compelled to spend heavily to rebuild their midfield in the short term.
In this context, Ugarte's future at Old Trafford is almost certainly over if Man Utd secure one of their targets. His limited playing time since the start of the season, coupled with plans to recruit a new central midfielder to replace Casemiro, is a sign that Ugarte's adventure may soon come to an end – even before he has a real chance to start over.
