Galatasaray are back at Manchester United’s door for Manuel Ugarte – and this time, they sense the deal is there to be done.
The Turkish champions came close to landing the Uruguayan in January after talks over a move to Istanbul, and their interest has not cooled. With Ugarte’s situation at Old Trafford deteriorating under Michael Carrick, Galatasaray are preparing another push ahead of the summer window, confident the landscape has shifted in their favour.
Ugarte on the outside looking in
Since Carrick stepped into the dugout, Ugarte has slipped quietly but decisively down the pecking order. He has yet to start a single game under the new boss. Kobbie Mainoo’s return and rapid rise have squeezed his minutes, and the 24-year-old now sees little sign of that changing if, as expected, Carrick is handed the job on a permanent basis.
Carrick is understood to rate Ugarte and has enjoyed working with him, but admiration does not translate into game time. The midfielder wants what every player at his age and pedigree demands: consistent first‑team football. Right now, he cannot see that at United.
Crucially, the club no longer look like an obstacle. United paid around £50million to prise Ugarte from Paris Saint‑Germain and committed to a hefty contract, but with the midfield being reshaped, there is a clear willingness to sanction a sale and move on.
Galatasaray lead the chase – but not alone
That stance has opened the door for Galatasaray to return. They were close in January; now they believe they can finish the job. The Turkish giants remain in direct contact and are well placed, with a move to Turkey currently viewed as the likeliest outcome.
Yet Ugarte’s camp are not treating Istanbul as the only route out. His representatives have started sounding out alternatives, and the response across Europe has been lively.
- Juventus have tracked him for a long time.
- In the Premier League, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham have all kept tabs on his situation and remain fully briefed on developments.
Villa are weighing up midfield options with Ross Barkley’s future uncertain. Newcastle could need a replacement if Sandro Tonali, who is open to a move away from St James’ Park, departs. Tottenham, under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, are braced for a major rebuild after another grim league campaign.
For Spurs, any move of this scale hinges on one brutal reality: they must stay in the division. Only survival will allow them to chase a player of Ugarte’s standing.
Even with that spread of interest, Galatasaray still sit in pole position. They have the long‑term desire, the previous groundwork, and a United hierarchy ready to deal. There are no qualms at Old Trafford about letting him go.
United look ahead: Diomande and Carrick
While Ugarte edges towards the exit, United’s recruitment team are already eyeing the next big investment. They are in the race for RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande, a 19‑year‑old who has lit up the Bundesliga this season and attracted heavyweight attention.
Liverpool currently lead the chase, and any deal will be expensive. Leipzig are expected to demand around €100million (£87.3m / $115.5m) for the teenager this summer, a fee that underlines how aggressively United plan to remodel their squad.
Off the pitch, the debate around the dugout refuses to die down. Wayne Rooney has publicly warned INEOS that it would be a “huge mistake” not to appoint Carrick as permanent manager, insisting he is “100%” the right man for the job.
If Rooney gets his wish and Carrick stays, Ugarte’s path into the team remains blocked. Galatasaray know it. So do the Premier League clubs circling. The only real question now is where the Uruguayan chooses to restart a career that cannot afford another season on the sidelines.
