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- 35 minutes ago
Amorim hit with transfer crisis as FOUR midfielders face Man Utd exit
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 16 Dec 2025 15:23 GMT
- 5 min read
News
Another Manchester United midfielder is set to command interest in the January transfer window following on from the doubts over the futures of Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.
Mainoo is expected to push to leave United in January, having failed to start a Premier League game this season, while Fernandes has caused shock with comments admitting he feels ‘on thin ice’ at Old Trafford.
With Casemiro also in the final year of his contract, United are set for a major revamp to their midfield in the coming months with the signing of at least two elite midfielders in 2026 such as Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson and, most recently, Tyler Adams.
But Ruben Amorim may be forced to replace an additional midfielder in Manuel Ugarte, with the Uruguayan being the subject of approach from Nice, the Ligue 1 side also run by United co-owners INEOS.
Current ETV
Manuel Ugarte
DM, M (C)
Man Utd
Manuel Ugarte
DM, M (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€46.6M - €57M
French outlet Jeunes Footeux report that Nice have enquired about a loan for Ugarte in a deal facilitated by INEOS which would give the club an opportunity to ‘explore options that would be inaccessible on the traditional transfer market’.
However, it is claimed that a deal for Ugarte ‘seems unlikely’, with the 24-year-old ‘not particularly keen’ on joining Nice even with United open to the enquiry.
Man Utd set for major midfield revamp in 2026
Like Mainoo, Ugarte has also barely seen gametime this season, featuring in just 314 minutes of Premier League action, with Amorim reluctant to move away from his starting duo of Fernandes and Casemiro.
Turkish side Galatasaray are also said to be interested in Ugarte and United are not believed to be against a deal, although any mid-season move would require a replacement to be signed.
Despite Amorim remaining unconvinced over Ugarte’s long-term credentials, the defensive midfielder may be held onto for the remainder of the season, particularly with fierce interest in Mainoo and the 20-year-old keen to find first team football elsewhere.
Fernandes, meanwhile, remains United’s captain and most important player and the club will not consider his departure until next summer, at which point he could be sold, while Casemiro is on course to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season unless he takes a wage cut.
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