Man United ‘Attempting To Hijack’ Mauricio Pochettino’s First Chelsea Signing

Manchester United has reportedly made a late entry into the pursuit of Sporting’s Manuel Ugarte, aiming to snatch the player away from Chelsea and disrupt Mauricio Pochettino’s first signing for the Blues.

Pochettino, recently unveiled as the new Chelsea boss is said to have given the green light for a significant transfer move for the highly sought-after Uruguayan midfielder, who has garnered attention across Europe in recent weeks.

Initially, Chelsea appeared to be the frontrunners to secure Ugarte’s signature, as the player expressed a preference for a move to Stamford Bridge over joining Paris Saint-Germain.

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However, A Bola reports that Manchester United’s involvement in the race could complicate matters for Pochettino and Chelsea.

Pochettino has already made it known within the club that he desires the services of the 22-year-old midfield enforcer, and there is cautious optimism that Ugarte could become the first signing of the new era at Chelsea.

Nevertheless, Sporting may now witness the bidding war they had hoped for as interest in Ugarte continues to grow.

Initially, Liverpool was reported to be in the mix, but their interest is believed to be less serious than previously suggested.

Aston Villa and Tottenham were also mentioned as potential suitors, but it seems that a three-way battle has now emerged between Chelsea, Manchester United, and PSG.

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Chelsea has reportedly submitted a substantial offer, while PSG is willing to match Ugarte’s £52 million release clause.

The extent of Manchester United’s financial commitment to secure the Uruguayan is currently unknown.

While Manchester United continues its search for a midfielder, with Marcel Sabitzer set to return to Bayern Munich and unlikely to join the Red Devils permanently, Declan Rice remains an admired target.

However, Bayern and Arsenal are believed to be ahead in the race for Rice’s signature.

Fred’s future at Manchester United is also uncertain, with Fulham reportedly interested in acquiring the Brazilian midfielder.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is in the market for midfield reinforcements as they may authorize several key departures this summer.

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Mason Mount’s potential move to Manchester United and the uncertain future of Mateo Kovacic are among the concerns.

Additionally, N’Golo Kante’s hesitance to commit to a new contract has sparked fears that he could depart after a seven-year spell at Chelsea.

With Pochettino officially replacing Frank Lampard, he is expected to display his ruthlessness by making significant changes to the squad.

The first high-profile departure under Pochettino’s regime is Joao Felix, who spent the latter half of the season on loan at Chelsea but failed to impress, resulting in Pochettino’s decision not to pursue a permanent deal for the Portuguese forward.