Newcastle Eyes Man United's Ugarte Amid Transfer Buzz

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is attracting interest from Newcastle United and several other clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, as the 25-year-old Uruguayan seeks a move away from Old Trafford following a challenging season.

Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain for 50.5 million pounds in the summer of 2024, arriving with a reputation as a tenacious defensive midfielder honed at Sporting Lisbon and PSG. However, he has struggled to establish himself, making just seven Premier League starts this season and totaling 791 minutes played. Despite ranking second in the league for tackles per 90 minutes at 4.7, along with strong duel-winning rates and interceptions, his overall impact has been limited. United have won only one of the 10 league games in which he has started, fueling fan frustration and online discussions labeling his appearances as a "curse."

The midfielder's difficulties came into sharp focus during Monday's 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United, his first start under interim manager Michael Carrick. Deployed alongside Casemiro in defensive midfield, Ugarte was unable to stem Leeds' attacks, with Noah Okafor exploiting spaces for both goals. The...