Manchester United agree deal to sign PSG’s Manuel Ugarte for initial €50m

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 homegrown 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.
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.
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. Mikel 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.
Fábio Vieira is likely to join Porto on loan for the season. Arteta hinted last week they could be active in the final days of the transfer window.
“We have to because anything can happen both ways,” he said. “You have to be ready, especially in the last week. You have to be alert and prepared because a lot of surprises can come, for many different reasons and we are prepared.”
There is interest in the Spain forward Nico Williams, who has a €57 million release clause but is believed to be reluctant to leave Athletic Bilbao in this window. Arsenal have also been linked with Sporting’s Sweden forward Viktor Gyökeres, who would provide more direct competition with Kai Havertz for the central striker’s role.
Palace are also understood to have registered an interest in Jakub Kiwior, with Arsenal deciding whether to sell the Poland defender or loan him. He also has interest from Bologna, from whom Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori this summer.
Palace are continuing talks with Newcastle over Marc Guéhi and have been lining up potential replacements. They had a €16.5 million bid for Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix rejected last week and are expected to return with an improved offer for the French defender, but have been frustrated in their pursuit of Benfica’s Tomás Araújo.
Palace are also interested in Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou, who is the subject of a loan bid from Atalanta. Odsonne Édouard, who joined Palace from Celtic on deadline day in 2021, could be allowed to leave if Nketiah signs. – Guardian