Manchester United have agreed a deal to buy Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte for €50 million plus €10 million in add-ons, with Scott McTominay expected to accept a €30 million transfer to Napoli.
PSG had wanted a €60 million fixed fee for Ugarte but United, after targeting the holding midfielder early in the window, negotiated a lower price, with the bonuses subject to performance and success.
If Ugarte comes as expected the 23-year-old will be Erik Ten Hag’s fifth major signing of the market, after centre back Leny Yoro (18) and Matthijs de Ligt (25), the striker Joshua Zirkzee (23) and Noussair Mazraoui, a 26-year-old full back. The club believe all have their peak years ahead.
United regard Ugarte as one of the game’s finest midfielders – he was chosen in the summer’s Copa América team of the tournament – and the Uruguayan would give Ten Hag a second senior holding player, alongside Casemiro.
With United having agreed a €30 million fee with Napoli for McTominay, the Scot is expected to join the Italian club. He has had a 22-year association with United after joining the youth programme at five.
United were reluctant to allow him to leave but Ten Hag could not guarantee the midfielder the starting berth he wanted. The Premier League profitability and sustainability rules that incentivise the sale of home-grown players also meant the deal is attractive.
McTominay, viewed by the club as one of their most successful academy graduates, has made 253 appearances for United, scoring 29 goals and winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Manchester United have also held talks with Chelsea for a swap deal involving Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea are open to taking Sancho on loan from United and sending Sterling in the opposite direction and held discussions on Tuesday over a possible deal.
Sancho, who is five years younger than Sterling, is also of interest to Juventus. Chilwell could also be offered as part of a move for Sancho.
Chelsea are also weighing up whether to make an offer for Brentford’s Ivan Toney. Toney has emerged as a potential solution for Chelsea after they failed to reach a breakthrough in talks with Napoli over Victor Osimhen. It is understood that although the Nigeria striker is keen on the move, Chelsea are not willing to match his wage demands. Napoli are close to signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have signed Spain midfielder Mikel Merino from La Liga side Real Sociedad on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
No transfer details about the 28-year-old midfielder were disclosed, but it is believed the London club will pay about £31 million (€36.7 million) for him.
Merino played every game for Spain in this year’s European Championship triumph. Arsenal, last season’s Premier League runners-up, signed Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna last month.
“Mikel is a player who will bring us huge quality with his experience and versatility,” manager Mikel Arteta told Arsenal’s website. “He has played at the top of the game at both club and international level for a number of seasons now. Mikel will make our squad significantly stronger, with his technical ability, together with his strong and positive character and personality.”
Heading the other way, Crystal Palace are confident of completing a deal worth up to £30 million (€35.5 million) for Eddie Nketiah after holding more talks with Arsenal over the England striker. Nketiah had looked set to join Nottingham Forest last week after they agreed a fee but that move collapsed over personal terms.
Palace are long-term suitors of the 25-year-old and acted after a second defeat of the season, against West Ham, on Saturday.
It is understood they have agreed terms with Nketiah that would make him one of their highest earners, with Arsenal expected to accept their offer of £25 million with a further £5 million in bonuses. Arteta is believed to have sanctioned his departure despite concerns over a groin injury that ruled Gabriel Jesus out of their win over Aston Villa on Saturday. The Brazilian had a scan over the weekend, although it is not known for how long he will be sidelined.
Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, subject to a work permit and international clearance, making Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s future at the club uncertain.
The 23-year-old will remain at Valencia for the rest of the season before moving to Anfield ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Mamardashvili has won 21 caps for Georgia and made 102 appearances for Valencia since arriving from Dinamo Tbilisi in 2021.
Kelleher has been linked with a move to Bournemouth and Wolves, but nothing concrete has come up for the Cork native, and he is expected to remain at the club for now, but with Mamardashvili arriving next season, his long-term prospects at Anfield are limited.
Brighton have completed a swoop for Fenerbahce’s Turkey international full-back Ferdi Kadioglu for an undisclosed fee. – Guardian
