Liverpool reportedly rejected the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, a decision that feels more intriguing now as our No.6 problem continues to sit near the centre of Arne Slot’s issues.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The Uruguay international eventually joined Manchester United in August 2024, with the deal reportedly worth an initial £42.1m and potentially rising to £50.5m (BBC Sport).
Liverpool passed on Manuel Ugarte after Zubimendi setback
That was after Liverpool had missed out on Martin Zubimendi, with James Pearce now explaining that the Reds were offered another defensive midfield option but chose not to move.
Writing for The Athletic, Pearce said: “They didn’t sign an alternative to Zubimendi in 2024 because they felt there wasn’t a suitable player on the market.
“At the time they were offered the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain but didn’t fancy him.”
That line is particularly interesting because Ugarte had already been linked with us before his Old Trafford move, with Jorge Chijane, his agent, previously namechecking Liverpool as a possible destination.
Even since his move to our historic rivals, there has been suggestions the former Sporting Lisbon man could still be ideal for a shock switch to Anfield.
The 25-year-old has not exactly become an automatic starter at Manchester United, with Sofascore listing 22 Premier League appearances but only eight starts this season.
However, the combative midfielder is still averaging 2.1 tackles per game, which underlines why his profile would naturally attract attention when our midfield balance is being debated.
Liverpool still need to solve the No.6 problem
Pearce’s wider point was not simply about Ugarte but about the fact Liverpool have repeatedly looked for a specialist No.6 without landing one.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Zubimendi were all named as players we pursued, only for none of those deals to happen.
Ryan Gravenberch’s transformation last season was rightly praised as a masterstroke by Slot, but the Dutchman has found this campaign more difficult, especially with so many minutes in his legs and Alexis Mac Allister not consistently offering the same protection alongside him.
Pearce added: “A combative holding midfielder has to be on Liverpool’s summer shopping list.”
After the 3-2 loss at Manchester United, where our defensive structure again looked vulnerable at key moments, it’s hard to argue against that conclusion.
Ugarte may not have been the answer Liverpool wanted, but the question remains unresolved.
Strangely all the lesser light clubs/Newcastle, Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford, Spurs seem to have no problem in finding a tough boots and all tackling midfielder – it’s just us who cannot – and please spare me the line…”“They didn’t sign an alternative to Zubimendi in 2024 because they felt there wasn’t a suitable player on the market”…all that this says is we lack the ability/capacity of being able to find an alternative…this has been going on for 3 seasons now…and it not good enough…there is out there an emerging prodigious mid field enforcer talent/Hughes over to you go find him and get him/that’s why you get paid the big bucks/my grandmother can go out and buy someone supposedly already proven fr big bucks ….”Newcastle United signed Bruno Guimarães from Olympique Lyonnais in January 2022 for a fee of €42.1 million ($43 million–£36.4m to £40m, depending on currency conversion at the time), including €8 million in performance-based add-ons….that is the sort of player we need in midfield…Hughes go find him…Wharton at a ridiculous sign on fee is not the destroyer we need….nor are most f the other mentioned exorbitant show ponies. YNWA!