22-year-old Uruguayan midfielder and Sporting Portugal player Manuel Ugarte is the subject of an increasingly intense battle for his services between Ligue 1 leaders Paris-Saint Germain and Premier League big-spenders Chelsea FC.
Ugarte, who has a €60m release clause, has agreed provisional terms with Les Parisiens, as reported yesterday, with Sporting Advisor Luís Campos seeking to pull the trigger on closing on the player’s arrival to make him the first signing of the summer transfer window for the Paris club.
As reported last night, Premier League duo Chelsea and Newcastle United intend to challenge Ugarte’s preliminary decision to join PSG by making efforts themselves to steal him away from the capital club.
According to Sports Zone, the player has yet to give his final green light to Les Parisiens and that Chelsea are now attempting to accelerate talks on their side to convince him to come to London rather than Paris.
Ugarte had been hoping to join Liverpool right up until last week, but as LFC appeared to stop talks, his entourage is now pushing him to conclude a deal with PSG, as they believe that the project best suits him.
Manchester United, who also made contact with the player’s entourage in recent weeks, have not been in contact either in recent days.
James Thorpe | GFFN
