Manchester United's priority transfer target Manuel Ugarte has reportedly been left out of Paris Saint-Germain's squad for a second match in a row amid rumours that he is close to finalising a move to Old Trafford.
It has been a busy summer for the Red Devils, who have splashed close to £150m to bolster Erik ten Hag's squad after a poor 2023-24 Premier League season.
United have already signed Leny Yoro from Lille, Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and Bayern Munich duo Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui over the last two months.
The Uruguay international has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford for several weeks now and it seems that he may now be closer than ever to leaving the French capital.
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Manuel Ugarte omitted from PSG squad again
Despite being fit and ready to feature, Ugarte was left out of PSG's opening match of the Ligue 1 season last Friday, when the side travelled to Stade Oceane to face Le Havre, which added to the speculation that the club were preparing for his departure.
That speculation has now ramped up a notch after transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Uruguay international has been omitted from the squad for a second week in a row for Les Parisiens' match against Montpellier this weekend.
The Daily Mail reported last week that Luis Enrique was concerned about how the 23-year-old would fit his style of play and was open to selling the player following the arrival of Joao Neves from Benfica.
Ugarte began the previous season as a regular starter for the Ligue 1 champions but dropped in the pecking order as the season progressed.
In his first year at PSG, the Uruguay international appeared in 37 games across all competitions and provided three assists during that time.
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West Ham closing in on PSG midfielder signing
Another notable name that was excluded from PSG's team sheet for their weekend fixture against Montpellier was Spain international Carlos Soler.
The 27-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the London Stadium to join West Ham United before the transfer window slams shut next week.
French media outlets reported earlier this week that the Hammers had reached an agreement with Les Parisiens to sign the Spaniard in a deal worth around £21m.
It is understood that the player is keen on a move to the Premier League and is looking forward to playing under Julen Lopetegui, who he has admired since he was in charge of Sevilla.
Soler arrived in the French capital two years ago from Valencia for a fee in the region of £15m and his current contract runs until the summer of 2027.
Devesh Jaganath
