Manuel Ugarte: Paris Saint-Germain close on Sporting midfielder after Chelsea withdraw interest - reports
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Updated 06/06/2023 at 18:09 GMT
The path for Manuel Ugarte to join Paris Saint-Germain appears to be clear after a complex transfer saga involving Chelsea. The Uruguayan has reportedly undergone a medical with the French champions, and if the move is completed, will add ballast to a squad that is undergoing a transformation this summer following the departures of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.
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Manuel Ugarte is expected to complete a move to Paris Saint-Germain this week after Chelsea withdrew their interest in the Sporting midfielder, according to reports.
Ugarte, 22, has been at the centre of an increasingly protracted transfer saga as PSG and Chelsea went head-to-head for the Uruguayan's services, a development that now appears to have concluded, with PSG having now met the £51.8 million (€60m) release clause for the player, according to the Athletic.
The same outlet - and others - reported that the midfielder had his medical with the Ligue 1 champions on Monday.
Chelsea had been in the hunt for Ugarte, but the process became complicated when a report from L'Equipe, published on Sunday, suggested the West London club had offered to cover add-on costs arising from the deal, as well as potentially taking a minority stake in Sporting.
Per the Athletic, that led to PSG drafting a letter - which they ultimately didn't send to Sporting - detailing their concerns over the deal.
Chelsea withdrew from the process shortly after the publication of L'Equipe's report, but club sources were reported to have cited the size of the proposed fee as the reason.
As such, the path looks clear for Ugarte to join PSG as the club undergo an overhaul this summer.
Lionel Messi's departure has been confirmed - with his destination as yet unknown - as has that of Sergio Ramos, and an overall refresh of the squad is expected, especially in midfield.
Reports have also suggested that boss Christophe Galtier will leave the club this summer.
PSG won the Ligue 1 title this term, but failed once again in the Champions League, the competition that has become a priority for the club's Qatari ownership.
Ugarte began his career at Fenix in Montevideo, before moving to Portugal with Famalicao in late 2020.
He transferred again in the following summer to Sporting, where has made 56 appearances across two seasons, impressing in central midfield with a series of tenacious displays.
Ugarte has eight caps for Uruguay and featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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