Leeds United had scouts in attendance for Arsenal’s clash with Sporting Club de Portugal to watch midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
That’s according to O Jogo, who say the Whites were one of several sides to send watchers to the Emirates for the clash earlier this month.
They explain that the Premier League was more than attentive to the game, with Leeds among multiple clubs sending scouts to watch various players in the Sporting line-up.
O Jogo say Leeds want Ugarte, who at this moment in time is the ‘most desirable player’ in the squad and his performance against Arsenal did not go unnoticed.
The Uruguayan’s display in that game was ‘noted’, despite him receiving two yellow cards in the game, although it is too early to talk of a transfer at this moment in time.
Manager Rúben Amorim has already made it clear he does not want to see the player sold and shared this with sporting director Hugo Viana.
However, there are scenarios in which the club cannot avoid a sale and if an ‘impossible to refuse’ proposal appears, or more importantly someone offers to pay his €60m clause, then they cannot turn it down.
Sporting would first prefer to hold off a transfer until they own 80% of the player’s rights, with them currently holding 70% after his move from Famalicão.
That will be increased by 10% when he plays another 15 games for the club, which could happen before the end of the season or at least the market closing in August. They would also like to convince the player to sign a new deal and increase his clause to €80m.
Leeds, therefore, would be wise to move now to avoid paying more down the line, although whether they can afford €60m is extremely debatable.
