Sporting CP were reportedly forced to sell highly-touted player Manuel Ugarte, giving Newcastle United and Manchester United a big advantage in their season-long efforts to bolster their midfield options.
According to a report in the Portuguese publication Leonino, Sporting will reportedly have "no other alternative" but to contemplate selling Ugarte during the summer transfer season due to their failure on two fronts in European competitions. Ruben Amorim's team slid into the Europa League after exiting the Champions League this season in the group stage and won an impressive two-legged match against current Premier League leaders Arsenal in the round of 16.
Their run came to an end, however, as a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their quarterfinal match against Serie A powerhouse Juventus on Thursday night was insufficient to overturn a first leg deficit. Sporting currently sits outside of the top three in the Primeira Liga with just three games left in the season, making it even less likely that they will qualify for the Champions League again next year.
According to the source, Uruguayan international Ugarte is "pole position" to be sold this summer to assist his team in avoiding the financial consequences of failing to qualify for European football's top division next season.
There have been discussions about a new contract that would have increased the hard-working midfielder's release clause from an estimated £52 million to around £70 million.
Ugarte might now be made available to Newcastle or its Premier League opponents as both clubs want to bolster their midfield options this summer. However, failure in Europe means that such negotiations are now unlikely to come to a successful end.
Liverpool and Man United interested in Chelsea's Kovacic
Mateo Kovacic, a midfielder for Chelsea, is anticipated to leave the team at the end of the year. The Blues have the 28-year-old Croatian international under contract until the summer of 2024; he has not agreed to an extension.
The player's agents have already come in England to hold negotiations about a transfer, and Chelsea may try to sell him at the end of the current campaign.
According to a report from 90 Min, Liverpool and Manchester United are getting ready to talk to the player's agents about a summer transfer. It appears that Kovacic is prepared to look into fresh possibilities, although it is unclear whether he would be interested in moving to Manchester United or Liverpool.
To partner Casemiro, the Red Devils will need to add a top-notch center midfielder, and Kovacic would be an outstanding choice for them. One of the top midfielders in the Premier League, the 28-year-old may have an immediate impact at Old Trafford.
Players like Kovacic may undoubtedly help Manchester United catch up to teams like Manchester City if they want to compete for major trophies.
Throughout his career, the Croatian has garnered numerous awards. His abilities and winning history might be very beneficial to the Red Devils.
Similar to Manchester United, Liverpool too needs to bolster their midfield, particularly now that Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have left the club. The two players will depart as unrestricted free agents this summer.
Mateo Kovacic, 28, will provide much-needed poise, control, and technical skill to the middle of the field and would be a perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp's high-intensity pressing style of play. Additionally, Kovacic possesses a tireless work ethic, making him a good fit for coaches like Erik ten Hag and Klopp.
Chelsea will presumably be reluctant to let their star midfielder join a Premier League competitor, but if the player is eager to leave, Chelsea will have no choice but to let him go.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, must be looking for a flexible midfielder in addition to an exceptional striker after personally experiencing his team's struggles this season.
While a defensive midfielder is necessary, it could be argued that a ball carrier is at least as important as Casemiro in terms of replacing him.
Bruno Fernandes, an offensive midfielder, has been forced to play in a more withdrawn role by the manager since the Red Devils lack a good passer in the middle of the pitch without Christian Eriksen.
When the Portuguese are still inactive, the identical issue arises. Both Marcel Sabitzer on loan and Donny van de Beek have failed to close the gap.
Having a dynamic player in the middle of the field who can provide goals and assists while managing the pace of play is urgently needed.
linkages to players like Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Frenkie de Jong, and Alexis MacAllister have persisted, while fresh linkages to players like James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia have also surfaced.
Gabriel Veiga of Celta Vigo has also been connected to the Red Devils for a long, so it is understandable why the connections have gathered momentum recently.
In 30 games in all competitions, the Spaniard has nine goals and four assists. He has performed both as a central midfielder and as an attacking midfielder.
With AS (via Sport Witness) confirming that the midfielder is being offered "dizzying" numbers by clubs in England, the La Liga team seems resigned to losing him.
If United decides to pursue the promising 20-year-old, his release clause is worth €40 million, which won't present an issue for them.
According to the report, United is one of the teams 'hunting' the player who the site has identified as 'the midfielder of the future' since his statistics this season have outperformed those of Jude Bellingham, who is in high demand.
Real Madrid is still the player's top choice, according to The Peoples Person, although they have "yet to be in contact about a potential move."
Which midfielder ultimately moves to Old Trafford in the summer will be interesting to watch. The club's transfer budget and the amount of money left over following their pursuit of a striker will be key factors.
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