Aston Villa locked in talks for Liverpool target Manuel Ugarte

Aston Villa join Liverpool in the race for Manuel Ugarte

Agent Jorge Chijane, who works with super-agent Jorge Mendes, recently confirmed Liverpool’s interest in Manuel Ugarte as the player is expected to leave Sporting Lisbon in the coming days.

A couple of days ago, it was reported in Liverpool Echo that the Reds will make their first bid to sign Ugarte very soon. The release clause of £52.2m was mentioned.

Chijane also updated us on the fact that there are many offers for the 22-year-old. He will only decide on his future once the Premier League and the Portuguese League get over.

Agent of Manuel Ugaret confirms Liverpool's interest in the player . — Agent of Manuel Ugarte confirms Liverpool’s interest in the player. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Here’s what the player’s agent had to say regarding his client’s future (h/t Mirror):

‌”Liverpool? There is a lot of talk, but it is not the only club, there are others. There is a lot of talk, but I am still not sure about the club (he will sign with). There are many possibilities on the table. I believe that in 15 days the situation will be resolved.”

He mentioned there are other clubs in the race, and according to Football Transfers (h/t Echo), Aston Villa are believed to be locked in talks to sign the Uruguay international. It remains to be seen if the Villans can jostle Liverpool off Ugarte’s scent.

We are a bigger club in every sense, there is no doubt about it. But if the Villans table a more lucrative offer and promise instant starts, then we can be in trouble.

It seems like we will know about Ugarte’s next club very soon. The Uruguayan is an exceptional player who predominantly plays in defensive midfield. At Sporting, Ruben Amorim mostly uses him in a double-pivot as the deeper of the two midfielders.

Ugarte will decide on his future in 15 days. — Ugarte will decide on his future in 15 days with Aston Villa now in the race. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

The 22-year-old is a fantastic ball-winner and breaker of opposition attacks. He is good on the ball without being flashy and loves a physical duel or two. That South American robustness is there in him. At the age he is in, Ugarte will only get better in the coming years and hit peak levels very soon.

We can only hope that all those things happen at Liverpool. The Reds are in the market to bolster their midfield department with multiple signings. While it is well and good to potentially sign central midfielders, getting a defensive midfielder to supplement Fabinho would be key.

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Hence, it would make a lot of sense for the club to sanction a move for Ugarte in the coming days. Jorge Mendes and Liverpool have done good business in the last few years. The current Liverpool players on his roster are Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Fabinho. Let’s add Ugarte to that list soon, shall we? Hopefully, the player is keen on the six-time UEFA Champions League over a club that are eighth in the league.