Aston Villa ‘may have’ head start in race to sign Liverpool target playing in Portugal

Aston Villa join the race to sign Liverpool target Manuel Ugarte and may have a head-start

As per Daily Mail (h/t Birmingham Mail), Aston Villa have joined the race and may have a head-start to sign Liverpool target and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

Apart from the two clubs mentioned above, Chelsea and Newcastle United are also interested in the Uruguay international who is set to leave Sporting this summer, as confirmed by his agent.

The report reveals that because the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool have other priorities to deal with in the summer window, Aston Villa may have a head-start in their bid to sign the 22-year-old.

Ugarte has a £55m buyout clause in his contract. So, the clubs know what money is required to sign him in the transfer market.

After beating Leicester City on Monday, Liverpool confirmed their participation in next season’s Europa League. They are still chasing Newcastle and Manchester United for the Champions League, but that seems unlikely.

Villa, on the other hand, are in a good position to finish in the top-six following their win over Tottenham Hotspur last week. The Reds can stop their charge by beating them at Anfield this Saturday.

Coming back to Ugarte and where he might possibly end up this summer, it seems unlikely that he will come to Liverpool, although the player’s agent did claim that the Reds are one of the clubs in contention to sign him.

With Fabinho doing well and Jordan Henderson may become his backup next season for the defensive midfield spot, Jurgen Klopp and his staff may focus on signing 2-3 central midfielders and bolster that department.

More Liverpool News:

• Micah Richards suggests Liverpool to sign James Ward-Prowse from relegated Southampton
• Alisson Becker talks about role of his teammates in his new contract with Liverpool
• Young Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah signs a new deal with the club

Hence, there is a case for Aston Villa to steal a march and get Ugarte. Newcastle might challenge them on this, but Liverpool may not.