After officially bidding Sergio Busquets farewell, Barcelona are in the market for a defensive midfielder as they urgently require a replacement for one of the greatest single pivots the game has ever seen. The club has shortlisted an array of options, with high-profile names also being considered.
As Joan Laporta maintains excellent ties with super agent Jorge Mendes, one of Mendes’ clients has been offered to the Catalans. Although Barcelona do not prioritize his signing, the Uruguayan midfielder remains a realistic option for the club.
According to Sport, Ugarte has been observed by a number of elite European clubs. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a spectacular season and significant interest in the player does not come across as a surprise. His physicality to impose himself in duels and reading of the game have been highly lauded.
The hot commodity from Sporting is reportedly in talks with Chelsea and PSG, who are prepared to pay in installments and edge closer to his €60 million release clause.
Despite Barcelona not taking action yet owing to the delay in the approval of the Viability Plan, Mendes is continuously updating the Catalans on the player’s circumstances, since he believes he’s the perfect player for the Catalan giants.
As of now, Chelsea are looking like a highly plausible destination for the youngster, even though they are facing financial limitations due to the issue of fair play.
In addition to having the upside of a super agent on their side in negotiations, Barcelona have great relations with the Portuguese club and have done business with them frequently over the years. In fact, last summer the two clubs reached an agreement over Trincao, with his permanent partial ownership by Sporting set to be made official in the coming season.
Ugarte by no means is a low-cost budget buy, but could be a more affordable option in midfield, considering the exit clause could be negotiated and Sporting also allow payments to be made incrementally in installments.
