Juventus chief eye Manchester United midfielder for summer 2026 transfer

Turin, Italy – Juventus have placed Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte on their summer 2026 shortlist after growing doubts over the Uruguayan’s role at Old Trafford, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Sporting director Marco Ottolini is expected to be in the stands when Uruguay meet Algeria at the Allianz Stadium this week, using the international friendly as a final scouting mission before deciding whether to formalise interest in the 24-year-old defensive midfielder.

Ugarte arrived at United with high expectations following a reunion with former Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim, yet has started only sporadically. The emergence of teenage prodigy Kobbie Mainoo and a resurgent Casemiro has pushed the Uruguayan down the midfield hierarchy, leaving him increasingly labelled as a back-up option rather than a core starter.

United’s hierarchy, mindful of financial fair-play constraints, have indicated they will listen to offers for squad players who have not cemented a place in Michael Carrick’s long-term plans. Ugarte, signed amid fanfare, now falls into that category, and the club are open to a sale that could be reinvested into priority targets.

Juventus see an opportunity. With Paul Pogba and Adrien Rabiot no longer in Turin, the Serie A giants are scouring the market for a ball-winning presence who can operate at high tempo in Massimiliano Allegri’s double pivot. Ugarte’s La Liga and Champions League experience with Sporting, coupled with his South American tenacity, fits the profile Ottolini is pursuing.

The Bianconeri are not alone in their admiration. Turkish champions Galatasaray have also made initial enquiries, hoping to capitalise on Ugarte’s desire for week-to-week football ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle.

Ugarte’s recent international outing only added to the intrigue. In a 1-1 draw with England at Wembley he somehow escaped a red card despite receiving two yellow cards, a quirk that briefly stole headlines but did not overshadow his energetic display.

With the summer window looming, sources close to the player suggest he is open to a fresh start. United value the midfielder in the region of €35 million, a fee Juventus are reluctant to meet outright but could approach through an initial loan with obligation to buy. Negotiations are expected to accelerate once Ottolini files his scouting report after the Algeria fixture.

For now, Ugarte remains a United player, but all roads point toward a swift resolution once the season concludes. Juventus hope to strike early, turning cautious interest into a concrete bid that reshapes their engine room for a renewed assault on both domestic and European honours.