Newcastle United will have to cough up €60 million to bring Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte to St. James’ Park in the summer.
Newcastle United have already contacted Sporting CP to tap into the possibility of having the services of defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte after he caught their eye with his commanding displays this season. Now, as per Fichajes, the Magpies might have to pay the 21-year-old’s full release clause, worth €60 million, if they are to secure his signature.
The Magpies were reportedly targeting a central midfield signing in January, especially after losing playmaker Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest. However, they failed to land Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Sheffield United’s Sander Berge following two late deadline-day loan enquiries.
So, Newcastle United could use more quality and depth in that area and have already started the process of identifying potential targets for the next window. As such, Ugarte would be a superb long-term acquisition for the Magpies.
At the age of 21, Ugarte is still quite young and has a high ceiling, whilst having significant first-team football experience under his belt. He has made 68 appearances for Sporting CP across all competitions, scoring once and providing two assists. The destroyer comfortably ranks in the top 3 percentile of holding midfielders for tackles, interceptions, and blocks in the top 5 European leagues.
The Uruguayan enforcer would fill a gap at Newcastle United, providing a much-needed defensive presence in the midfield. Bruno Guimaraes, who is at his creative best when given license to roam, would benefit significantly from the addition of Ugarte, as he would allow the Brazilian maestro to operate with a bit more freedom and make an impact in the final third.
A progressive manager like Eddie Howe could help the player develop further and utilise his vast skillset according to his needs. Furthermore, signing the 21-year-old would allow Newcastle to rotate their first-team stars and keep the squad fresh so that they can compete on all fronts next season, especially if they qualify for Europe, and given Howe’s physically demanding pressing system.
Sporting are reluctant to sell the 21-year-old South American midfielder owing to manager Ruben Amorim’s wish to keep the core of his team together for the upcoming season, having lost Pedro Porro to Spurs this past January. But he has a €60 million release clause in his contract, and any move would be up to him if Newcastle or another suitor activated the same.
As things stand, Sporting are trying to protect Ugarte’s stock by extending his contract until 2026 or 2027 with a wage increase, but the club want to increase his release clause to €80 million. It will be interesting to see if Newcastle decides to follow up on their interest with a concrete offer at the end of the season.
