Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are close to signing Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP) after Chelsea tripled their offer. Mauricio Pochettino, who managed PSG until last summer, has spoilt his first signing as Chelsea manager.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano, who is well versed in the transfer market, took to social media on Friday to reiterate that PSG are leading the race to sign Ugarte.메이저사이트
“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 a buyout for Ugarte, but PSG have taken the lead in the race to sign the player after reaching a personal agreement with the player.
According to Portuguese publication Hecord, Ugarte was expected to head to Chelsea, who offered €3.5 million a year. The outlet also reported that a medical had been scheduled, making a move to Chelsea a virtual certainty.
However, PSG put the brakes on Ugarte’s move to Chelsea by offering €30.1 million, around the same as Chelsea’s offer, to keep him.
“PSG know that they have a ‘match point’ in the signing of Ugarte, as they agreed improved personal terms yesterday,” Romano said.
“PSG and Sporting are in dialogue to complete the deal,” the source continued, “but Chelsea are still not willing to meet the new terms offered by PSG.” In other words, Chelsea had capitulated.
Meanwhile, as Ugarte’s move to PSG drew closer, new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was left to bite his tongue at the disappointment of having his favourite player snatched up by his hometown club.
Pochettino was in charge of PSG from January 2021 until the 2021/22 season, but was sacked ahead of the start of the season last summer due to poor results.
Pochettino, who took a year off after his sacking to take charge of Chelsea, wanted Ugarte as a gift to the club but was forced to settle for the next best thing when PSG fell through.