The latest Liverpool news as the club were reportedly offered the chance to sign the midfielder last summer, before he moved to Old Trafford.
Liverpool reportedly had the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte last summer. (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Liverpool reportedly turned down the chance to beat Manchester United to the signing of midfielder Manuel Ugarte last summer. Arne Slot’s first transfer window in charge of the club was a relatively quiet one with Federico Chiesa the only new arrival.
A deal to sign goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was also agreed, but he stayed with Valencia for this season and will arrive at Anfield in the summer.
The Reds did appear to be closing in on a move for midfielder Martin Zubimendi with the club activating a £51 million release clause in his contract. However, the Spaniard opted to remain with Real Sociedad and has since been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the upcoming summer window.
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With Liverpool having been targeting a new midfielder, it is reported by the Athletic that the club were offered the chance to sign Ugarte as an alternative to Zubimendi, with the Uruguayan still at Paris Saint-Germain at the time. However, the club were reluctant to panic buy and turned down the chance.
Instead of bringing a new player in, Slot instead opted to give Ryan Gravenberch a chance in a deeper role. He has been a key player for Liverpool in their title winning campaign.
As for Ugarte, he completed a summer move to Manchester United for a fee of £42 million. The 24-year-old has however failed to make an impact at Old Trafford, with the club sitting in 14th place in the Premier League table in what has been a poor season. The midfielder was named on the bench for the weekend’s draw with Bounremouth, coming on to play the final 25 minutes.
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool ECHO front page. Liverpool champions. April 28, 2025
Liverpool, meanwhile could potentially resume their midfield search in the upcoming transfer window. Arne Slot has already spoken about the summer transfer window.
“I think at Liverpool there is always a big summer and it is already a big summer now,” he said earlier this month. “Maybe the players don’t follow everything what has been said in the media, me neither, but what I do know it was it was a big thing – ‘can we hold onto them?’ – and by already holding on to two it is already a big summer.
“Let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring but it would be strange for me to say now I am not happy with the team we are having because I’ve said this for a year, we are happy with the team we are having. Maybe if we can keep that team it will already be a big summer.”