Manuel Ugarte responds to Man Utd interest as club line up double defender signing

Ugarte prepared to join United this summer (Picture: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Manchester United have stepped up talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Manuel Ugarte with the midfielder eager to make the move to Old Trafford.

United made their interest in the Uruguay international known this week with reports suggesting the French champions turned down an opening offer that fell ‘significantly below’ their valuation.

Ugarte joined PSG from Sporting Lisbon last summer in a deal worth £51million after a move to Chelsea fell through.

While he was a first-team regular during the first-half of the season under Luis Enrique, he lost his place in the side in the second-half of the season.

PSG are eager to recoup the £51m they spent on the 23-year-old with Fabrizio Romano reporting United reached out again on Friday to discuss a deal.

Crucially, Ugarte is open to making the move to Manchester, even without Champions League football on offer.

United finished eighth in the Premier League last season but their FA Cup triumph secured them a place in the Europa League.

United want de Ligt AND Branthwaite (Picture: AFP)

Man Utd want to sign de Ligt and Branthwaite

In what could be a busy summer at Old Trafford, United are hoping to sign a centre half and a striker in addition to a holding midfielder with Casemiro’s future at the club uncertain.

The club have seen an opening offer for Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite rejected this summer with the Toffees holding out for £70m for their prized asset.

United are not willing to meet that price and are prepared to walk away unless Everton lower their demands.

United saw an opening bid for Branthwaite rejected (Picture: Getty)

Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt is another option under serious consideration, with that interest reportedly independent of their ongoing pursuit of Branthwaite, The Athletic report.

Bayern are reportedly holding out for a deal worth close to £60million but United have indicated they are only prepared to pay half of that figure, around £30m for the 24-year-old who starred under Erik ten Hag during their days together at Ajax.

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