Liverpool Could Reignite Interest in PSG Midfielder Amid Transfer Speculation | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Summer Targets: Manuel Ugarte Back on the Reds’ Radar

As attention continues to focus on the upcoming transfer window, many supporters are left intrigued by the potential business to be done by Arne Slot. Recent reports suggest that a former Liverpool target could be available once again this summer, after a poor debut season at his current club.

That player is 23-year-old PSG midfielder, Manuel Ugarte, who joined the French side from Sporting Lisbon for £60million last summer. The Reds were previously heavily linked with a move for the youngster, but PSG seemingly beat them to his signature.

With that being said, could Liverpool reignite their interest in Ugarte?

Who is Manuel Ugarte?

For those who may not know, Ugarte is a 23-year-old defensive midfielder currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. The youngster enjoyed a breakthrough season at Sporting Lisbon last year, resulting in a £60million move to PSG in the summer of 2023.

Ugarte has since made 36 appearances across all competitions so far this season, mostly being deployed at the base of a midfield three. His impressive club form for Sporting and PSG has earned him 15 senior appearances for the Uruguay National Team, where he has played alongside Darwin Nunez.

Despite his young age, Ugarte has racked up almost 200 senior appearances already, suggesting that his experience may transcend the face value of his age profile.

Photo: IMAGO

Tactical Fit at Liverpool

Perhaps the major question would be whether Ugarte would fit into Liverpool’s tactical system. If Jurgen Klopp was remaining at Liverpool, then this would be a no-brainer and Ugarte could potentially fill the huge void left since the departure of Fabinho last summer.

However, with Arne Slot’s arrival imminent, it’s yet to be seen what system the Dutchman will opt for. Typically, Slot plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the two midfielders operating in a double pivot. Unfortunately, Ugarte doesn’t have much experience in this sort of system, only playing in this sort of system on 11 occasions throughout his career so far. For argument’s sake, Ugarte has racked up 176 appearances as a six in a midfield three.

In terms of footballing attributes, Ugarte possesses a lot of the ball-winning ability that has been missing this season. Of course, Wataru Endo has put in a good shift in that role but simply doesn’t command the physical presence that a player of Ugarte’s stature possesses.

Financial Implications

A potential stumbling block in this potential move could be the finances involved in the deal. PSG will likely want to at least recoup the majority, or even all, of the £60million fee that they spent on Ugarte last summer. I find it hard to see Liverpool spending that amount of money on Ugarte, but should the 23-year-old be available for around £40million, then it would surprise me if Liverpool didn’t reignite their interest.