Chelsea lead Liverpool in bid to sign Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte
Chelsea hold a serious advantage over Liverpool when it comes to attempting to sign Sporting CP midfield star Manuel Ugarte. The 22-year-old has is new on the list of potential defensive options for Mauricio Pochettino this summer.
With a $60m (£52m) release clause in his contract and attention from Liverpool and Aston Villa, Ugarte is seen as one of the best young options on the market in his position after excelling for Ruben Amorim.
Having already done big business in Portugal this season, splashing out on Enzo Fernandez in January, Todd Boehly will be aiming to use his contacts once again.
It is reported in Portugal that Jorge Mendes will be brockering the deal, the same super agent that helped Chelsea and Boehly in the winter.
Chelsea’s desire to sign a new striker this summer is well documented with a plethora of early options emerging including Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Lautaro Martinez and Victor Osimhen.
Another forward that is said to be in the mix is Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian has struggled to replicate his red hot form from the past 18-months in Turin but is still just 23.
According to agent Massimo Brambati, “There are three teams that showed up” to watch the striker during the Old Lady’s Europa League semi-final loss to Sevilla.
“In my opinion, Juve will take these offers seriously,” he said. “All of them have an important profile, because they’re Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.”
