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Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is said to be "planning a transfer" this summer, with reports suggesting he has "many options" available to him across various clubs.
This could bring a relatively quick end to his stint at Old Trafford, having joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024. Ugarte has featured in only eight Premier League starts this season—just one under interim boss Michael Carrick, who remains the frontrunner for the permanent managerial role.
The Red Devils are expected to enter the transfer market to find a replacement for the departing Casemiro, with the Brazilian's exit unlikely to open the door for more playing time for Ugarte. A new starter alongside Kobbie Mainoo will be in place for 2026–27 and beyond, whether that turns out to be Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, Éderson or another candidate. Meanwhile, United are increasingly expected to bring in one or possibly two additional players as depth options for the No. 6 and No. 8 roles.
Regarding Ugarte, Sky Sport Germany correspondent Florian Plettenberg reports that the Uruguay international is actively seeking a move away. Galatasaray was considered a "concrete" option when the topic arose last summer. Separate reports this year have strongly linked him with Juventus, while Napoli, AC Milan, Lyon, Marseille and Ajax have also been mentioned as potential destinations.
Nine Players Could Leave Man Utd
In what promises to be a pivotal and consequential summer for the club—both as they prepare to return to the Champions League next season and push toward a targeted Premier League title by the end of 2027–28—Manuel Ugarte could be far from the only departure at Manchester United.
Casemiro's exit is already confirmed once his contract runs out, with the veteran leaving on a positive note after arguably his finest campaign at the club. Despite persistent fan calls for an extension and even his teammates urging the Brazilian to remain, there will be no change of heart.
Goalkeeper Altay Bayındır is set to move on—likely to Türkiye—where he can expect regular starts. André Onana will soon wrap up his Trabzonspor loan but sits well behind Senne Lammens in United's goalkeeping hierarchy and is unlikely to accept a backup role. Retaining Tom Heaton, a respected senior presence, as third choice on another one-year deal would be a sensible move given the ongoing reshuffling in that department.
Marcus Rashford's future remains uncertain following Barcelona's reluctance to activate the purchase option in last summer's loan agreement. He could return to Old Trafford, head back to Catalonia on a second loan, or sign permanently with another club entirely.
The Rasmus Højlund situation is far clearer, with the striker set to join Napoli on a permanent basis once the anticipated Champions League qualification triggers the conditional buy obligation in his loan deal. Jadon Sancho will be out of contract when his Aston Villa loan concludes and is not expected to come back.
Joshua Zirkzee has continued to attract speculation, having been largely on the periphery this season. More opportunities may come his way as the fixture list grows, but the Dutchman could still seek a transfer if he feels his chances are greater elsewhere. Fellow countryman Tyrell Malacia is set to become a free agent soon, and signing a left back remains a possibility regardless.
Ugarte Struggles Explained
Manchester United completed a $66.7 million (£50.5 million) deal for Ugarte with Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024. He had previously established himself as one of Europe's most exciting defensive midfielders during a standout spell at Sporting CP. However, a combative and eye-catching start in Paris—"When I win the ball back, I'm happy," he told club media upon his arrival in the French capital in 2023—faded in the second half of his debut campaign.
Even so, given his particular skill set, Ugarte appeared to be an ideal signing.
Yet things are rarely straightforward. Ugarte's situation wasn't helped by the turbulent circumstances he walked into at United. There had been considerable uncertainty throughout the early summer due to internal debate over Erik ten Hag's future, with a string of poor results quickly leading to the Dutchman's sacking by October 2024.
Ugarte required a more settled environment during his initial adjustment period, and it was a serious setback that his first Premier League start ended in a chastening 3–0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur, after which he was promptly dropped from the lineup.
There was optimism when the club subsequently appointed Ruben Amorim, Ugarte's former manager at Sporting, but the Portuguese head coach faced far greater challenges as he worked to install an entirely new tactical framework. Results deteriorated to a 51-year low, and while Ugarte was generally in the starting XI, the difficult environment severely damaged his confidence and long-term standing at the club.
This season has largely followed the same pattern, with Amorim opting to deploy Bruno Fernandes out of position even after dropping Mainoo, while Carrick has placed his trust in the latter.