Tottenham will have to fork out €40 million to sign Manuel Ugarte from Sporting CP, with the Portuguese side keen to extend his deal.
As reported by Sport Witness, Manuel Ugarte could cost Tottenham more than €40 million in January. The north Londoners are keen on signing the Uruguayan midfielder. But Sporting CP would like to offer him a new deal to increase his current valuation.
Manuel Ugarte has been a player of interest for Tottenham for some time now. The Uruguayan midfielder had caught their attention after numerous impressive performances, including Sporting CP’s clashes against the north Londoners in the Champions League group stages.
While a defensive midfielder is not a priority for Tottenham, they are keen on signing the 21-year-old South American midfielder to shore up their ranks. In the last two windows, Antonio Conte signed Ugarte’s compatriot Rodrigo Bentancur and Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma. He may want another option to strengthen the squad.
Tottenham wanted to watch Ugarte in action at the World Cup. Unfortunately, the midfielder is yet to play a single minute for Uruguay, as La Celeste stare hard at an early exit. Whether or not he gets to play in Qatar, Spurs are looking to broker a deal ahead of the January transfer window.
Sporting CP are getting a little anxious over a sale. They remain protected by a €60 million release clause in Ugarte’s contract. Reports from Portugal claim they could entertain approaches only above the €40 million mark. Whether Tottenham are willing to spend that much remains the question.
The Portuguese outfit could offer Ugarte a new contract. They could increase his salary and raise his release clause from €60 million to €80 million. By doing so, they could ward off immediate interest in January and look to make a sale during the summer.
In such a scenario, Tottenham could bow out of the race and may look to divert the money towards other areas of their squad. The need for a creative midfielder, a few defenders and a forward is far more pressing for Antonio Conte. He could ask the north London club to make signings in January.
As for Ugarte, the interest remains, and Tottenham could attempt to sign him in January. That may also prove the only viable time to sign the South American midfielder. He could become far more expensive for Spurs’ liking beyond this window.
