Paris Saint-Germain ‘will trigger’ Manuel Ugarte’s release clause, in a blow for Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa, with all four Premier League clubs thought to have been targeting in the Sporting Lisbon star.
Ugarte – who move to Sporting from Famalicao for £10m in the summer of 2021 – has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool at one point tipped as favourites to land the Uruguay international.
Asked about a move to the Reds in particular earlier this month, his agent insisted there were “many possibilities” for his client.
Jorge Chijane said: “Liverpool? There is a lot of talk, but it is not the only club, there are others. There is much talk, but I am still not sure about the club. There are many possibilities on the table.”
He was was right about that, with Tottenham, Chelsea and Villa all said to be keen.
Liverpool were thought to be ‘closest to an assault’ for the Uruguayan, while Spurs and Villa were said to be ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in the race.
Chijane added:”It’s almost certain that he won’t stay, it’s sure he’ll leave. I believe that in 15 days the situation will be resolved.
“Soon I’ll be in Lisbon. I trust Jorge Mendes, who is the best agent in the world. In fact, when I told him about Ugarte for the first time, he said to me: ‘Your eyes are my eyes’.”
It was claimed after those comments that a furious Sporting had ‘forbidden’ Ugarte from holding any talks elsewhere.
The Portuguese giants ‘even told the Reds there could be sanctions from UEFA regarding the harassment of a player in the middle of the season’.
But that’s not stopped Ugarte, who is indeed set to leave Sporting, according to L’Equipe, but it’s PSG who will be signing him this summer.
Talks are said to be ‘very advanced’ and the Ligue 1 side ‘will trigger’ Ugarte’s €60m release clause.
‘Barring a U-turn, the 22-year-old will be PSG’s first signing this summer.
READ MORE: Liverpool signings from Bundesliga ranked as transfer chief Schmadtke targets German market
