Chelsea ready to rival PSG for midfield star with agreement already reached over personal terms
Chelsea are ready to rival Paris Saint Germain for Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte, with the 22-year-old Uruguayan reportedly favouring a move to the Premier League over a Ligue 1 switch this summer.
The Blues ended a disappointing season with a drab 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against high-flying Newcastle United, leaving them 12th in the Premier League and without European football of any kind for next season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s impending arrival, their fourth manager in 12 months, could be a catalyst for change in west London, and they are expected to continue to be active in the transfer market in a bid to overhaul a bloated squad.
One area that certainly needs surgery is central midfield, where Jorginho departed in January and all of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Denis Zakaria could leave this summer, meaning that reinforcements are crucial.
To that end, it has been reported that Pochettino himself has identified Ugarte as the right man to fill the void, with the Blues joining a long list of interested clubs that had reportedly included Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa, while PSG have tabled a bid for the midfielder.
A tough-tackling midfielder, the 22-year-old, Ugarte impressed in the Europa League as they knocked out Premier League giants Arsenal in the last 16 of the competition, though he was sent off late on in the second leg.
The Blues have already agreed deals for both Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto, who will join up with their new teammates in the coming weeks.