Manchester United's midfield transfer plans have been thrown into chaos by Manuel Ugarte's knee ligament injury. The 25-year-old suffered the injury in Uruguay's defeat to Spain on Friday, likely facing a long lay-off.

What happened?

Ugarte's injury means Manchester United's plans to sell him this summer are impacted, with the club hoping to sign three midfielders in this transfer window.

Manchester United had agreed a £35million deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, and were trying to make progress on Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United. Alternate players they have been looking at include Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Fulham’s Sander Berge.

Why it matters for Manchester United

The injury to Ugarte means Manchester United cannot sell him or move on his wages for now, limiting their options for the third midfield signing. Ugarte had been considered surplus to requirements heading into this summer, after failing to live up to his £50.8 million arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

What comes next?

It remains to be seen how Manchester United's midfield reconstruction can now be carried out, with the club still seeking to sign three central midfielders. As of the end of the 2025-2026 season, Manchester United were in 3rd place in the Premier League, with 71 points from 38 games, and a recent form of WWDWW. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League standing | 3rd in Premier League | | Goals this season | 69 scored, 50 conceded | | Title race | 14 points behind leaders Arsenal | | Last result | Brighton 0-3 Manchester United (2026-05-24) | | Recent form | 4W-1D-0L (WWWWD, most recent first) | | Next fixture | vs AC Milan (at home, 2026-08-15) | Manchester United will look to regroup and reassess their transfer plans, with the new season approaching