Carrick’s first January decision: United “unlikely” to move forward with midfield deal – report

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has been one of the most disappointing signings of the INEOS era. Signed to take over from the ageing Casemiro by Erik ten Hag, the Uruguayan has struggled with the pace and physicality of the Premier League. Even his Sporting CP boss, Ruben Amorim’s arrival, did little to change his fortunes. So much so that the Brazilian eventually overtook him in the pecking order. He has started the last five games in a row, and while there have been signs of progress, the Red Devils require a far more mobile midfielder who is comfortable progressing the ball. Manuel Ugarte has proved to be a disastrous signing There were murmurs that the co-owners were ready to cut ties, with the Uruguay international attracting interest from France, Turkiye, and Holland. Galatasaray were ready to offer the 24-year-old an initial loan escape with the option to make it permanent come the summer. However, Amorim’s sacking and Michael Carrick’s subsequent appointment seems to have changed the narrative around the January deal. As per ESPN, the caretaker has been assigned the responsibility of guiding the 20-time English league champions back into the Champions League. Plenty of clubs interested And the Englishman is not keen to lose anybody in the winter, especially as INEOS are unlikely to sign anyone this month. Manuel Ugarte Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionPlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League15——1—726′ EFL Cup1————45′ FA Cup1————79′ Total17——1—850′ 25/26 season stats  “Michael Carrick will work with the squad he has inherited as Manchester United head coach with the club having no plans to make new signings during the transfer window, sources have told ESPN. “Sources have said that outgoings are also unlikely, with Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo all expected to remain at the club this month.” United won’t sell With Amad, Bryan Mbeumo back, Carrick will have almost a full-strength squad to choose from for the Manchester derby. It will be interesting to see the formation he goes with and the team he picks. Whether Manuel Ugarte starts will shed light on his immediate future under the new boss. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25