Dream Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd could see bid accepted for £26m “warrior”
It could be argued that Manchester United’s recent triumph over Newcastle United came almost in spite of Ruben Amorim’s substitutions, with Casemiro not the only one left rather incredulous by the Portuguese’s selection decisions.
Indeed, replacing Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw with just minutes left to play appeared a particularly bizarre move, as did the decision to withdraw the ageing Brazilian on the hour mark.
At a time when an already light midfield unit has been further depleted by the loss of Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes to injury, making such an alteration could have proved costly, even with Amorim highlighting the need for ‘freshness’ in that second-half.
The gamble did, in a way, pay off as the hosts clung on at Old Trafford, but the sight of a midfield pairing of teenager Jack Fletcher and the struggling Manuel Ugarte should be enough to force INEOS into the market next month.
Ugarte, in particular, appears in need of replacing if United are to kick on under Amorim’s watch.
Man Utd could see bid accepted for Ugarte replacement
For the first time in eight attempts, the Red Devils won a game with Ugarte in the starting lineup, with that unfortunate record highlighting just why the Uruguayan has become such a maligned figure among the Old Trafford faithful.
A starter in just four Premier League games this season, the 24-year-old is yet to find his groove in Manchester even after reuniting with his former Sporting CP boss, having even reportedly been given a dressing down by Amorim in front of teammates at the end of last season.
Such is his lowly standing, reports have indicated that INEOS would be open to offers for Ugarte in the New Year, with the club hierarchy intent on overseeing a midfield overhaul in 2026.
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The likes of Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton remain leading long-term targets, yet if Amorim desires a quick fix, then Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher might just be the man.
According to reports in Spain, the Red Devils are ‘seriously considering’ whether to make a move for the ex-Chelsea star, having had the 25-year-old on their radar for some time.
As per the report, United have been made aware of the type of offer it would take to prise the Englishman from the Spanish capital, with Atleti having set an asking price of €30m (£26m).
Why Gallagher would be the perfect Ugarte upgrade
As stated above, United might be setting their sights higher ahead of next summer, but the current midfield woes simply need resolving, hence why a Premier League-proven figure like Gallagher is a must.
Ugarte, after watching on for much of the campaign, has been given his chance in recent weeks, but he simply hasn’t taken it.
Against Aston Villa, for instance, he was replaced late on having won just seven of his 14 ground duels, while being dribbled past twice.
Against Newcastle, meanwhile, he lost possession on 12 occasions, while having been dribbled past three times up against the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Ugarte – vs Villa & Newcastle
Stat
Villa
Newcastle
Minutes
73
90
Touches
44
63
Key passes
0
1
Pass accuracy
84%
73%
Dribbles
1/1
2/2
Ground duels
7/14
8/15
Aerial duels
1/1
0/1
Possession lost
7
12
Dribbled past
2
3
Stats via Sofascore
An upgrade then is a necessity for INEOS heading into January, with Gallagher the type of bargain option who could slot in nicely, possessing all the same running power as Ugarte, but with far greater end product to go with it.
Hailed as a “warrior” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Atleti star has scored three times this season so far, taking his total tally to 14 goals and assists in 75 games since joining Diego Simeone’s side back in 2024.
That move had come despite arguably enjoying his finest season at Chelsea the year prior, ending 2023/24 with 16 goals and assists for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino.
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Previously described by talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino as like “N’Golo Kante with goals”, Gallagher is the true all-rounder, notably ranking in the top 6% of European midfielders for non-penalty goals per 90, as per FBref, as well as in the top 3% for interceptions.
Ugarte, for instance, does rank in the top 1% for tackles, although it is the other side of his game that is found wanting, having ranked in just the top 37% for non-penalty goals.
That difference in quality can also be seen by how Gallagher betters the South American in a string of metrics per 90, including progressive carries (1.97 vs 0.78), touches in the opposition box (2.97 vs 0.78) and pass completion (88% vs 84.8%), again highlighting why he is the superior box-to-box asset.
Ugarte, a player who has scored just six career goals in all at senior level, is merely a steady Eddie, lacking that genuine quality that is needed to thrive in a Premier League midfield.
Gallagher might not be perfect, but he’d certainly be a class above, if United are able to secure a knock-down next month.
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