Liverpool will not be pursuing a deal for Manuel Ugarte this summer, leaving the door open for rival clubs such as Chelsea and Aston Villa. Despite having talks with Ugarte’s agency, Gestifute, Liverpool was not willing to pay the full release clause of €60 million and had concerns over whether the midfielder would provide value for money.
In contrast, Chelsea and Aston Villa remain keen on the 22-year-old, with the latter still interested even though Mateu Alemany is set to stay at Barcelona. Liverpool believes that they are better off sourcing a No.6 midfielder who plays in a three-man midfield system, with Romeo Lavia being a potential target.
Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount are the major targets for Liverpool at this point. Although there is no indication that Mac Allister won’t be moving to Anfield, it is contingent on whether Liverpool can secure a Champions League spot this season. While Ugarte had expressed interest in joining Liverpool, the club had concerns over his lack of Premier League experience and different playing style at Sporting CP, making a potential move too risky.