Man Utd Assured That Manuel Ugarte's Injury Won't Hinder Transfer Plans

MANCHESTER UNITED do not expect Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury to have a major impact on their transfer business.

Ugarte is out for the remainder of the calendar year after in Uruguay’s World Cup defeat to Spain last week.

Ugarte ruptured his ACL Credit: AP:Associated Press Ugarte is out for the remainder of the calendar year Credit: Alamy

had under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Discussions were not advanced on a potential sale of Ugarte.

The intention to shift Ugarte was with a view to signing a third central midfielder, with a and .

With Ugarte now unsellable and unplayable, an extra midfield incoming is more pressing. , Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton have all been tracked.

United also want to bring in a left-sided player, a forward and a back-up goalkeeper.

The club are prepared to let it play out with Marcus Rashford amid ongoing uncertainty over his future.

Rashford could fill the void of a winger or forward as he has played the majority of his United career in both positions.

United have Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee at centre forward while Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu are head coach Michael Carrick’s options on the left.

Rashford is a more specialist option on the left than Cunha and Dorgu and a more dependable goalscorer than the misfit Zirkzee.

It remains to be seen whether Rashford, 28, would want to reconcile with United after 18 fraught months.

There was surprise at United that Barcelona opted to pass on Rashford and buy Anthony Gordon, who lost his place to Rashford in the England team against Panama on Saturday.

Barcelona decided against buying Rashford for £26million after he publicly expressed his wish to stay at the club. Gordon cost £69.3m.

Rashford has not played for United since December 12 2024 and since embarked on two loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona.

United’s private preference has been to sell Rashford, who is their highest earner and about to enter the final two years of his contract.

Rashford is expected to report for pre-season training once his post-World Cup three-week break has ended. He has worked with Carrick and his assistant Steve Holland at club and international level.

Carrick has internal alternatives to Zirkzee up front. Cunha is capable of playing there and has scored three goals for Brazil as their No.9 in the World Cup group stage. Wingers Bryan Mbeumo and Amad have also been deployed as auxiliary strikers.

United are interested in West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville while Newcastle left back Lewis Hall would be open to an Old Trafford switch.

Rashford started for England in New Jersey Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Rashford has not played for United since December 12 2024 Credit: Getty

The club are open-minded about whether to bring in a left back or a left winger but they have ample options to support Luke Shaw.

Although Shaw, 31 next month, is out of contract next year and his workload will increase with United back in the Champions League next season, the club have three other left backs on their books.

Dorgu was brought in as a left wing back but has developed into a winger, scoring three goals in three starts there under Carrick.

Harry Amass, 19, has been sidelined since January with a hamstring injury he sustained on loan at Norwich City but figured on the 2024 pre-season tour and played seven times under Ruben Amorim.

Diego Leon, 19, signed for United last summer but spent the majority of his maiden season training with the under 21s and has not made his debut yet.

Leon will likely be sent out on loan and Amass is also open to heading back out on loan but is set to be involved in pre-season.

Right backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have also played several times at left back.

A new goalie would not set back United much and they could bring in a free agent, having looked at Karl Darlow and Angus Gunn.

Nottingham Forest released Gunn and Darlow is in discussions with Leeds about a possible renewal.