Manchester United report: £60m transfer to benefit Red Devils in pursuit of key target

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 30: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Manager Erik ten Hag, Assistant manager Rene Hake of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at UCLA Campus on July 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United have just been handed a major boost in their pursuit of one priority target this transfer window, following another signing that has happened elsewehere. 

So far this summer, Manchester United have made plenty of changes to Erik ten Hag's coaching staff, while Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro have both been signed, too.

Their transfer dealings certainly aren't stopping anytime soon, either, as they look to benefit off of a major signing that's been concluded on the continent. 

VIDEO: Why Signing Archie Gray Was A Masterstroke By Spurs

According to The Athletic, PSG have agreed a £60m deal with Benfica for midfielder Joao Neves, with Renato Sanches rejoining the Portuguese side on loan. 

While Manchester United were often linked with Neves, that transfer could actually stand to benefit them in their pursuit for Manuel Ugarte, who currently plies his trade with the Ligue 1 champions.

Ugarte, a defensive midfielder who could fall down the pecking order at PSG following Neves' arrival, has been on the radar of Manchester United all summer, with L'Equipe now reporting that PSG are willing to accept a paid loan for the Uruguayan midfielder along with an option-to-buy clause, too.

Manuel Ugarte of PSG and Manchester United passes the ball during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier HSC at Parc des Princes on November 03, 2023 in Paris, France.

Ugarte of PSG (Image credit: Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Ugarte signed for PSG last summer for £50m, with his contract running until 2028. The 23-year-old played 37 times in total for the French side last term, though not in the starting XI as often as he would've liked.

Manchester United believe he's the ideal signing to get their midfield ticking in the new season, especially following the decline of Casemiro's form in recent months. 

In FourFourTwo's view, the ability to loan Ugarte is certainly an incentive for Manchester United, especially if the fee is cheap enough and the option-to-buy clause also isn't too extravagant. The deal looks a lot more likely as a result of Neves joining PSG, too, so expect this transfer to move along quickly. 

Benfica star Manchester United Joao Neves continues to be linked with a summer move to Manchester United.

Neves is set to join PSG (Image credit: Getty Images)

More Manchester United stories

Manchester United to make THIRD attempt to sign European star, following two failed offers: report

Manchester United agree terms for highly-rated star, as club legend proves 'crucial' to deal: report

Gary Neville reveals size of financial 'risk' taken with first Manchester United contract

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.