Manchester United are planning to sign a third midfielder during the summer transfer window, provided they can find a buyer for Manuel Ugarte. The club is currently working on a deal for a second midfielder, after which the focus is expected to shift to other positions, particularly a left-sided player. However, United are open to offers for Ugarte, and if strong interest emerges, they will re-enter the market for a midfield addition.
Ugarte's potential departure
A potential stumbling block is that Ugarte still has a book value of around £30 million, as he is just two years into a five-year contract after signing from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.5 million. United would have to take a loss on the 25-year-old. Ugarte had a difficult World Cup and did not use the tournament as an audition, but there are clubs in Europe who still rate the former Sporting and PSG holding midfielder. If he were to leave, United are likely to focus on a squad player. They had Championship duo Shea Charles and Hayden Hackney on a list of more low-key targets, although both look set to move elsewhere. Sander Berge is another who features on United's midfield shortlist and could be an option if Ugarte departs.
Fernandes move imminent
By the end of this weekend, we could have a good idea of which club Mateus Fernandes will be joining during this summer transfer window. Talks have accelerated in the final week of June, given West Ham's financial situation. There is confidence that Tottenham can do a deal for the 21-year-old and suggestions they are willing to meet West Ham's £80 million demands, but there isn't yet a sense United are giving up and moving on to other targets. If West Ham do want to sell before June 30, movement is expected this weekend. Both Tottenham and United have explored the terms of a deal, without putting the cash on the table. That could change in the next few days, and United might soon know if they have managed to land the player who is currently their top target in midfield.
Casemiro's tears
Casemiro will officially leave United on Wednesday. The club will have to go through the process of detailing the 34-year-old's profile on the official website and officially severing ties with him after a long goodbye. He only played 160 times for United, but packed a lot into it, and his affection for the club was reciprocated by supporters. In difficult times, his energy and passion stood out. Even in his final week of employment, United released the Farewell Casemiro film, which showed the midfielder and his wife shedding tears at the idea of saying goodbye to the club.
Sesko links dismissed
There was bemusement at United this week when Barcelona were linked with a move for Benjamin Sesko. Relations between the two clubs are hardly on a firm footing after the Marcus Rashford affair. There is still a feeling in Catalonia that Barca might yet return late in the window to try and lowball United into either selling Rashford on the cheap or sanctioning another loan. Old Trafford sources are adamant that it won't happen. The idea of being willing to listen to offers for their No.9 after one good season is pie in the sky. The story surfaced in Marca, a Madrid daily, rather than one of the Catalan papers, which raised more than one eyebrow.
Dispatch from Carrington
United have been linked with an awful lot of players this summer, and the majority have some substance to them. The club now rely on a more data-led approach to recruitment, meaning the list of potential targets is longer than it used to be. Notebook has been told the list for potential additions that fit the brief for a second-choice goalkeeper and third-choice midfield are lengthy once the numbers have been crunched. That’s why plenty of players feature as possible targets this summer. United won’t sign them all. But interestingly, those in charge of recruitment at the club are far more relaxed about those names creeping out into the media. While former football director John Murtough used to hate seeing transfer targets’ names in print, especially if there was little substance to it or they weren’t likely to happen, the current executives at the club have less of an issue with it and are instead focused on getting on with business and getting those deals lined up.
Quote of the week
"If Ruben was still the manager now Kobbie would have probably shifted on and be looking for a new club. It would have been a mistake, he's a Manchester lad, he's come through the academy, we want those players at our club to drive the club forward for the next 10 years. Hopefully, he's at the club for the next 10 years because he has the ability to do so." Harry Maguire becomes the first United player to consider the nightmare scenario of Kobbie Mainoo leaving Old Trafford, had Ruben Amorim not been sacked. Maguire has been great value on The Rest is Football over in New York, and on Mainoo, he was bang on.
What to look out for next week
That June 30 accounting deadline is the key date. Will West Ham need to sell before then? If so, what sort of offer do they take for Fernandes? Several clubs will be trying to get the books balanced by then, including Hull City, who will need to sell before looking to strengthen in the summer. They could look to take Toby Collyer back to Humberside and have reportedly got an interest in Radek Vitek.
