Ajax considering winter swoop for Manuel Ugarte

Eredivisie giants Ajax are considering a winter loan move for Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte , according to Voetbal International .​

Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain for around €50 million in the summer of 2024, but struggled for a consistent starting role in England.

He has started only six of United’s twenty Premier League matches this season, a limited role that has pushed him to seek more regular minutes.

While Ugarte is open to moving to Amsterdam on a temporary basis, his salary remains a stumbling block given Ajax’s current wage structure.

Any loan deal would therefore have to be with Manchester United continuing to cover a significant portion of his wages, and this will require tough negotiations between the clubs.

Ugarte is contracted to United until 2029 and is also attracting interest from other clubs, including Turkish giants Galatasaray, which means Ajax will face competition if talks progress.​

Ajax are in the market for a defensive midfielder, and while Ugarte is considered a serious short-term option, the Eredivisie giants are also keeping an eye on long-term solutions.

Meanwhile, alongside Ugarte, Daley Blind is also viewed as another potential addition.

With Blind’s Girona contract expiring in the summer, any January transfer will be expected to come at a modest fee.

Ajax see the Dutch veteran as a cost-effective option who could contribute on the pitch and later transition into a mentoring or off-field role in Amsterdam.​

After a horrid spell between September 30 and November 25, when Ajax won just one of 10 matches across all competitions, De Godenzonen have won six and drawn one of their subsequent seven games.

However, they remain a whopping 16 points shy of PSV Eindhoven in the title race.

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