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Manchester United switch midfield targets after talks over PSG’s Manuel Ugarte break down

Burnley’s Berge among potential alternatives as Premier League side balk at £52m fee for Uruguay international

Manchester United have switched their focus to a number of different midfield targets including Sander Berge, Richard Ríos and Martín Zubimendi, or they could even bring back Sofyan Amrabat, after balking at Paris St-Germain’s asking price for Manuel Ugarte.
Although United could revive their interest in top-target Ugarte if PSG’s stance softens on the Uruguay international, they are now looking at alternatives with only three-and-a-half weeks to the close of the transfer window.
PSG signed Ugarte for around £52 million from Sporting Lisbon last summer and have been demanding a similar fee but the 23-year-old did not start regularly for the French club last season and United feel his price should reflect that. Conversely, PSG feel the wider interest in the player justifies their valuation.
Berge, the 6ft 5in Norway international who impressed at Burnley last season despite their relegation from the Premier League, is one of an array of options now under consideration.
Palmeiras midfielder Ríos, who caught the eye for Colombia en route to the Copa América final last month, is also on United’s radar, as is Real Sociedad’s Zubimendi, who was part of Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 squad.
There are thought to be one or two other as yet unnamed candidates on United’s shortlist, while the prospect of the club returning for Amrabat, who spent last season on loan at Old Trafford from Fiorentina, has not been entirely discounted.
United had the option to sign Amrabat permanently for an initial £17.1 million with £4.3 million in add-ons at the end of last season, but decided against it, so they would have to negotiate new terms with Fiorentina for the Morocco midfielder to bring him back. Amrabat is thought to have been waiting for United to reveal their hand before making a decision on his future.
United had hoped to sell Casemiro this summer to help fund a move for a new No 6 midfielder but, as things stand, there have yet to be any takers for the Brazilian veteran, whom Erik ten Hag made captain during pre-season in the absence of Bruno Fernandes.
It remains to be seen if any late Saudi interest in Casemiro develops and the situation has instead led United to consider selling Scott McTominay. Fulham have had at least two bids for McTominay rejected. Galatasaray, especially, and Fenerbahçe are also keen to sign the Scotland international, whom United value at £25 million to £30 million.
United have sold or released Mason Greenwood, Donny van de Beek, Willy Kambwala, Álvaro Fernández, Raphaël Varane, Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams and Omari Forson this summer, but some other players are proving harder to shift.
Casemiro aside, United need to offload Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof – both of whom have entered the final year of their contracts – to bring in reinforcements at right-back and centre-half. West Ham are trying to get a deal over the line for Wan-Bissaka and there has been tentative interest from Italy and Turkey in Lindelof but his wages are an obstacle for suitors.
Bayern Munich rejected a joint-bid from United last week for the Netherlands central defender Matthijs de Ligt and Morocco right-back Noussair Mazraoui. Inter’s Denzel Dumfries is another option at right-back.
Ten Hag’s wish for another centre-back deepened after new signing Leny Yoro, who underwent surgery on a fractured metatarsal on Monday, was ruled out for three months.
United have confirmed that new signing Joshua Zirkzee will wear the No 11 shirt vacated by fellow striker Rasmus Hojlund, who had already taken the No 9 jersey instead.
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who arrived this summer as one of Ten Hag’s two new assistants alongside René Hake, has offered some insight on the work they have done on the training pitch.
“On a collective level, it’s important to get the different game phases into the team: what is expected in the pressing or in the build-up or in the mid-block or in all the phases of the game,” he said.
“Like clear, ‘What do we want? How do we want the execution to be and how do we translate it into the training pitch?’
“I think we both are aligned with that and also with the manager, of course, and from there, you look to make an influence on individuals or units. In the end, when we’re on one page, we are the strongest. That’s our aim and it will take time, but we had a good start so far.”

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