Manuel Ugarte warming up for Manchester United (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace are reportedly among several clubs monitoring Manchester United defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte as a potential target for the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Uruguay international has struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford, mirroring a previous difficult spell at Paris Saint-Germain. Given his lack of impact, a move to a mid-table Premier League side may be the most viable path for the 25-year-old to secure regular first-team football.
According to Sports Boom, both Crystal Palace and Everton are the primary suitors for the midfielder. Manchester United, who paid approximately £50 million to acquire Ugarte from PSG, may be forced to accept a significant financial loss to facilitate the move.
Manchester United Preparing to Offload Ugarte
With the player failing to integrate into the squad’s core plans, it appears likely that United will look to move him on in the near future. Palace could benefit significantly from the acquisition; Ugarte’s tenacity and ball-winning capabilities may flourish in an environment with different expectations.
Additionally, The Athletic has previously linked the South American with a move to Ajax, suggesting the Dutch giants may renew their interest this summer.
As the club prepares for Ugarte’s departure and the exit of free agent Casemiro, Manchester United are expected to aggressively pursue new midfield reinforcements to stabilize their engine room.
Recent reports from Fabrizio Romano suggest that Ederson is poised to join United from Atalanta as part of this midfield overhaul, coinciding with the planned departures of Casemiro and Ugarte.
? Éderson will only be the first midfield signing at Man United, at least another one has been planned.
Casemiro and Ugarte to leave so #MUFC will add one more, could be two under certain conditions.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 2, 2026
While Ederson represents a potential upgrade over Ugarte, the club may seek further additions before the season begins to ensure sufficient depth in the midfield.