CL side have made “significant progress” in their bid to land in-form United star in January – reports

Manchester United could only manage a point against the Premier League’s bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Ruben Amorim’s puzzling tactical calls, coupled with his risk-averse style and the fact that all his big-name players underperformed, resulted in the 1-1 draw. Casemiro was one of them, yet he managed to complete 90 minutes, while Manuel Ugarte, who had another decent outing, was subbed off. The Uruguayan also impressed last week against Newcastle; however, generally, his poor form since his signing in the summer of 2024 has disappointed many. Galatasaray have made significant progress And that has led to rumours of a potential exit, as early as January with Galatasaray, Napoli, and Olympique Lyonnais among the sides chasing his signature. However, the Turkish side’s loan offer was initially rejected, with the Red Devils holding out for €30 million to move the Uruguayan on permanently. However, there seems to have been a softening of stance, with Turkish journalist Ertan Süzgün claiming United are now open to a loan arrangement. The report claims the defensive midfielder, who has not played the full 90 minutes even once this season, wants to play regularly and hence is open to the idea. Loan exit only “Galatasaray have made significant progress for Manuel Ugarte. Ugarte wants to join a team where he can play more. “Manchester United are open to a loan departure. The option will not be mandatory.” Galatasaray are said to be stepping up their interest in Manuel Ugarte. Utd Confidential revealed earlier this month that Turkey is Ugarte’s most likely destination if he leaves OT #mufc https://t.co/1EOiuGwicj — Chris Wheeler (@ChrisWheelerDM) December 30, 2025 The Peoples Person had relayed that the ex-PSG ace’s national teammates Fernando Muslera and Lucas Torreira were pushing him towards a switch to Istanbul and The Daily Mail‘s Chris Wheeler is pointing towards a similar conclusion. “Galatasaray are said to be stepping up their interest in Manuel Ugarte. Turkey is Ugarte’s most likely destination if he leaves OT.” Deal unlikely to be greenlit anytime soon despite reports It makes very little sense to sanction the 24-year-old’s loan exit without at least an option to buy if not an obligation. Also, United are unlikely to sanction a departure without bringing in a replacement given how thin the squad is at present. As of now, Manuel Ugarte is unlikely to leave. But once the big-name stars return from injury and AFCON, United might be ready to listen to offers, but only if their valuation is met. 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