Manuel Ugarte has had an underwhelming time at Manchester Untied, but there is interest from a Champions League club in the midfielder this January.
The Uruguay international joined the Red Devils from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 for an initial £42m and looked to be a replacement for Casemiro in the holding midfield role.
The 24-year-old made 45 appearances in all competitions in his first season with the club, but has fallen down the pecking order this campaign under Ruben Amorim.
Uguarte has returned to the starting XI in recent weeks due to injuries to Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, but he has consistently been behind Casemiro in Amorim’s thoughts.
The Red Devils boss even spoke publicly about Ugarte underperforming, having known him for a long time as they worked together at Sporting.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Speaking in November, Amorim said: ‘He is struggling in the moment, but it is our job to try to help our players and again, everything can change.
‘You saw it five weeks ago, the environment was completely different, so I know that Ugarte is struggling in the moment, and my job is trying to help him to feel as a player, like I felt when he was a Sporting player, for example.
‘But it is a different world and he needs to adapt and he needs to improve, especially in training.’
Manchester United legend Gary Neville also gave a pretty scathing review of the midfielder’s skills in a recent clash with Aston Villa, saying on Sky Sports: ‘The problem with having Ugarte in that deep-lying position is he’s not very good on the ball.’
Ugarte signed a five-year contract in 2024, with an option for a further year, but there is already the possibility that he could move on.
The Daily Mail reported in mid-December that there is interest in Ugarte from Turkey and now state that Galatasaray are stepping up their pursuit of the combative midfielder.
Given Ugarte is currently in the first team, Manchester United may need to secure a replacement before deciding to let him go in January.
There will also be negotiations as the Red Devils will want to recoup as much of the money they spent on the midfielder as possible, but they are open to letting him go.
Football365 report that Galatasaray want a loan deal with an option to buy worth £21.8m, while Manchester United are looking for £26.1m for Ugarte to leave on a permanent basis.
Manuel Ugarte Premier League stats
Apps: 42
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
There is also reported interest in Ugarte from Nice, the French club also owned by Manchester United chiefs Ineos. However, the Uruguayan is not believed to be interested in that switch.
The future of another Red Devils midfielder, Mainoo, is also up in the air, with the England international heavily linked with a loan exit this month.
Napoli continue to show interest in the 20-year-old and he is believed to be keen on seeking out more regular first team football away from Old Trafford.