Manchester United is not forcing Ugarte to transfer; he may stay next season. Ratcliffe still plans to spend 100 million to strengthen the midfield.

Manchester United aims to offload Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte during the summer window, yet the club is aware that the hefty €60 million (£52 million) acquisition cost and his £120,000-per-week salary could make it tough to secure a new home for the 25-year-old. Since the club doesn't want to sour relations, he might end up staying.

To reach an agreement, United would need to slash Ugarte's transfer fee by 70%, accepting around €20 million. However, his book value still stands at €30-40 million, making such a sale a loss-making deal. Under current rules, the club can no longer lock Ugarte out of the dressing room to force a move, as they did last year with Rashford, Garnacho, Sancho, and Antony.

Thus, according to *The Sun*, Carrick is already prepared for Ugarte to remain in the squad next season. It is expected that United will adopt a similar approach to what they did with Maguire and McTominay that year: the club was willing to sell both, but if they wanted to stay, the club was happy to accept that.

West Ham United tried to sign both players, offering £30 million for McTominay but being rejected, though a similar offer for Maguire was accepted. Unfortunately, the deal fell through due to unresolved wage compensation issues, so Maguire stayed. Ironically, the pair repeatedly saved manager Ten Hag in the following season.

McTominay was eventually sold a year later, while Maguire remained at United and renewed his contract this summer, continuing to play for Carrick next season. Rumored potential buyers for Ugarte include Turkish side Galatasaray and some mid-table Premier League clubs. However, whether they are willing to meet United's asking price remains a big question, and his performance at the World Cup could have a significant impact.

If Ugarte stays, United may have to buy one fewer player, but British media report that the club is still willing to invest over £100 million to strengthen the midfield, signing one or two more players. This budget may not be enough to secure Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, as a £120 million bid from Manchester City has been rejected, with Forest demanding a fixed fee of over £125 million!

United is also willing to pay £100 million for Anderson, provided the player wants to join. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old English midfielder prefers a move to City. Therefore, rather than investing heavily in a high-profile player who does not prioritize joining the team, it might be better to reallocate funds for other targets.

West Ham's Matheus Fernandes, Bournemouth's Alex Scott, and Brighton's Carlos Baleba are all on the shortlist. Among them, 21-year-old M. Fernandes is currently United's priority; after West Ham's relegation, the Portuguese youngster is determined to leave. 23-year-old Scott's contract with Bournemouth is entering its final two years, potentially reducing his price. 22-year-old Baleba already agreed to join United last year, with personal terms settled.

All three clubs have reasons to sell their midfielders. West Ham needs to raise between £100 million and £150 million after relegation. Brighton operates on a model of buying low and selling high, as does Bournemouth, which has sold key players like Huijsen, Kerkez, Zabarnyi, and Semenyo over the past year.

The 26-year-old Italian international Sandro Tonali is also highly appreciated by Manchester United. However, Newcastle has always considered themselves rivals of United and is unwilling to sell players to the Red Devils. Thirty years ago, the two clubs indeed competed for the Premier League title, with Sir Alex's team miraculously overturning a 12-point deficit to win the championship.

United has already secured a £39 million deal for Atalanta's Ederson. The 26-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder will officially join after the World Cup. The club is confident they can negotiate an appropriate transfer fee to sign a true replacement for Casemiro in midfield, while staying within budget. For today's United, installment payments are also a common practice.

If Ugarte stays and United still has remaining midfield budget, it will be used to strengthen other positions. Carrick wants a left-back, a left winger, and a backup goalkeeper. If possible, signing a backup striker and a new center-back could also be considered.

Manchester United has successfully restructured its £1 billion debt, borrowing £410 million at a higher interest rate to repay the original £317 million debt due on June 25, 2027. This will enhance the club's financial flexibility. After over a year of negotiations, United agreed to raise the interest rate from 3.79% to 5.36%. Part of the loan was used for early debt repayment, with the remainder allocated to daily operational expenses.

Last year, "Swiss Ramble" reported that since the Glazer family borrowed money to acquire Manchester United in 2005, the club has paid £852 million in interest alone. Future debt may increase further, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to build a new 100,000-seat stadium, with construction costs of at least £2 billion.