Liverpool fans could have their hearts broken once more by Manchester United if the Red Devils swoop in for another of the club's targets just a matter of days after confirming the signing of Leny Yoro from Lille .
The Reds were linked with a move for the French defender this summer after expressing their interest to Lille, yet ultimately decided against making a bid after refusing to match the Ligue 1 club's eye-watering price tag, coupled with the fact it was assumed he was off to Real Madrid .
It a dramatic turn of events, however, the 18-year-old ended up joining Erik ten Hag's side after it had a bid of $67.5million (£52.2million/€62million) plus $8.7m (£6.7m/€8m) of add-ons accepted for the center-back, with Yoro most likely seeing an easier route into the first-team that at Liverpool and Real Madrid.
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The signing came as a major blow for the Reds and now their biggest rivals could cause further pain by sealing a deal for another player they have been previously linked with. According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano , Man United has agreed on personal terms with Manuel Ugarte.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has reportedly already discussed contract terms with the club and is keen on moving to Old Trafford, even if they will not be competing in the Champions League this season. Perhaps the major factor in the deal is that the player shares the same agent as Yoro - Jorge Mendes.
Romano claims club-to-club talks continue with PSG, however, as more clubs have also inquired. Whether one of them is Liverpool or not is yet to be revealed, although the Reds were reported to have eyed the 23-year-old last summer when he was still at Sporting Lisbon.
Liverpool was believed to be one of the clubs impressed by the Uruguay international, with his former agent Jorge Chijane saying at the time that there were "many offers on the table" for the star. He told O Jogo last summer: "Liverpool? There is a lot of talk, but it is not the only club, there are others. There's a lot of talk, but I'm still not sure about the club. There are many offers on the table."
Previous reports claimed Liverpool had already made "initial contact" over a move last year, yet Ugarte ended up moving to Paris instead. However, after just one season in the French capital, in which he made 37 appearances for PSG and helped it win three trophies, he is seemingly on the move again.
Primarily a defensive midfielder, Ugarte also started all six of Uruguay's fixtures at the Copa America this summer as they achieved a third-placed finish. Now, he could be set to line up for Man United come the start of the 2024-25 campaign - and pose another blow to Liverpool's transfer plans.
The Reds revitalized its midfield last summer with the additions of Dominik Szoboszlai , Alexis Mac Allister , Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch , while the likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott also remain on the books. But with new boss Arne Slot now taking over the reins, he may want his own additions in the squad.
Ugarte may well have been one of those in the frame to bolster his options , but following reports that the Red Devils have already agreed on personal terms with the midfielder, it looks as though Liverpool is set to lose out on yet another signing to their biggest rivals.
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