Newcastle United are among the Premier League sides keeping an eye on Sporting Club de Portugal midfielder Manuel Ugarte this summer, with reinforcement in the midfield considered ‘crucial’.
That’s according to O Jogo, who say the Portuguese club are likely to sell their star man after the end of the season.
The newspaper explains that Sporting are looking to raise between €80-100m from sales by the end of this season after being knocked out of Europe and with Champions League football next season looking unlikely.
They have already brought in €42m from the sale of Pedro Porro to Tottenham in January but there is still a ‘need to sell’ and Ugarte is the likely candidate.
Sporting believe his departure in the summer is ‘practically inevitable’ as there is a growing market for him in the Premier League.
Newcastle are one of those interested, with them looking likely to spend big in the summer should they qualify for the Champions League.
They already have funds available, and Sporting are happy to sell Ugarte, with them looking to add an ‘important sum’ to the figure they received from Porro’s departure.
His current release clause is set at €60m but if Sporting can get a figure that allows them to bring in at least €80m from the sales of Porro and Ugarte then they would be happy.
Newcastle would be able to satisfy those demands given their financial power and the midfielder is on their list of ‘validated targets’ to be looked at once the season comes to an end.
