Liverpool are reportedly preparing to submit their first bid for Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte this week. The 22-year-old has been the subject of plenty of speculation in recent weeks, with a release clause said to be around £52.2 million. Liverpool’s scouts were reported to have attended Sporting’s clash with Famalicao last month, adding fuel to the rumours that the Uruguayan was firmly on the club’s radar ahead of the upcoming transfer window. Ugarte is said to be a “profitable asset” at Sporting and a sale could go a long way to helping the club to balance the books, with Liverpool looking well placed to capitalise. He has typically operated as a defensive midfielder during his time in the Primeira Liga, an area which could require reinforcements given Fabinho‘s recent struggles for form and Stefan Bajcetic‘s long-term injury. This comes as the Daily Mail‘s Dom King suggested that the Reds are “not expected” to push ahead with a move for another deep-lying midfielder in Nice’s Khephren Thuram.
Ugarte is joined on an extensive list of reported midfield targets by the likes of Mason Mount, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Matheus Nunes, but is a much more defensive-minded player than the majority of the other players touted. Links to the likes of Moises Caicedo and Joao Palhinha suggest that the club are seeking a signing for the No. 6 position to complement other purchases, but Ugarte looks to be the most likely if recent reports are to be believed. While no agreements for any players are yet in place, it appears almost certain that multiple midfielders will arrive this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to transition to a new generation in that area of the pitch. Ugarte has made 45 appearances in all competitions so far this season and his current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.