Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are close to signing Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP) after Chelsea tripled their asking price. Mauricio Pochettino, who managed PSG until last summer, has spoiled his first signing as Chelsea manager.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano, who is well versed in the transfer market, took to social media on Friday (Aug. 5) to reiterate that PSG are leading the race to sign Ugarte.
“Chelsea are withdrawing from the Manuel Ugarte race, with PSG leading the race,” Romano reported. “Ugarte was open to a move to Chelsea, but PSG have made a better offer and Chelsea are not willing to pay more than Ugarte’s ‘market valuation’,” he added.
Ugarte, a young Uruguayan midfielder born in 2001, is said to have a buyout clause of €60 million.
Both Chelsea and PSG were willing to pay Ugarte’s buyout, but PSG’s personal agreement with the player gave them the lead in the race.
According to Portuguese publication Hecord, Ugarte was expected to head to Chelsea, who offered €3.5 million per year. The outlet also reported that a medical had been scheduled, making the move a virtual certainty.
However, PSG put the brakes on Ugarte’s move to Chelsea by offering €30.1 million (approximately $14 billion) to keep him. 안전놀이터
“PSG know that they have a ‘match point’ in the signing of Ugarte, as they agreed yesterday on improved personal terms,” Romano said.
“PSG and Sporting are in talks to finalize the deal,” the source continued, “but Chelsea are still not willing to meet the new terms offered by PSG.” Chelsea had capitulated.
Meanwhile, as Ugarte’s move to PSG neared completion, new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was left bemoaning the fact that the player he wanted was snatched up by his hometown club.
Pochettino was in charge of PSG from January 2021 through the 2021/22 season, but was sacked before the start of the season last summer due to poor results.
Pochettino, who took a year off after his dismissal from PSG before returning to management at Chelsea, wanted Ugarte as a gift for his arrival but was forced to settle for the next best thing when PSG fell through.