Manchester United’s push for Mateus Fernandes has stepped up as Manuel Ugarte's injury complicates the club’s midfield plan. Matteo Moretto said United have "stepped up their effort to sign Fernandes", but the route to a third signing is now less straightforward than it was a few days ago.
Ugarte's injury and United's midfield plan
Ugarte was stretchered off during Uruguay's defeat to Spain after a challenge involving Mathias Olivera. He later described it as "a season with many difficult moments." That setback matters because United planned to sign three midfielders this summer only if they could find a buyer for Ugarte.
The rest of the picture is not hard to read. Ugarte made just eight league starts last season after a £50.8m move from Paris Saint Germain in 2024. He has also played 187 minutes across three World Cup appearances, with a 6.37 average rating in the tournament.
Fernandes is now the main target
Fernandes has moved to the front of a chase that also involves Tottenham, with West Ham valuing him at £85m in one report and £80m in another. United and Spurs were both linked earlier, but the sporting pitch is still in United's favour. They finished third in the Premier League with 71 points, while Tottenham ended the season 17th on 41 points.
That does not mean the deal is close to done. It does mean the market has settled on Fernandes as the player around whom this part of United’s summer is forming, while Ugarte’s injury makes the decision on a third midfielder harder to push through.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →