Even though they spent north of £600million last season, Chelsea are expected to be heavily involved in the summer transfer market once again, and one player they are very interested in is Manuel Ugarte.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder is an eight-time Uruguay international, and was part of the squad that competed at the 2022 World Cup.
After just seven months of stellar performances for Portuguese side Famalicao, Ugarte signed for Sporting Lisbon in 2021, where he has become one of the Primeira Liga’s most consistent midfielders.
Mauricio Pochettino, who was announced as Chelsea’s new manager on Monday, is believed to want the Uruguayan, who Pochettino’s former employers Paris Saint-Germain also admire. He has a £53m buyout clause, which PSG are willing to pay up front while Chelsea reportedly prefer to agree a structured deal.
Gallagher (CM) — Ugarte (CDM) — Enzo (CM)
Chelsea fans have shared their frustrations since Enzo Fernandez signed in January at the way he has been deployed much deeper than at Benfica or for Argentina at the World Cup. Enzo is a cultured, pivoting deep-lying playmaker but has had to act as a defensive midfielder since joining.
In all three of these potential midfield line-ups, the Premier League record signing’s offensive threat would be unlocked by the presence of Ugarte as a bona fide defensive midfielder.
Pochettino had a history of developing young English players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier when he was Tottenham boss, and Conor Gallagher is the sort of versatile midfielder who could thrive under the Argentine.
Enzo (CM) — Ugarte (CDM) — Kante (CM)
It remains to be seen whether N’Golo Kante will leave this summer, with his contract up in June. If he does sign a contract extension then it is quite plausible he would move ahead of Gallagher in the batting order.
With Ugarte still the sole defensive midfielder, Kante could partner Enzo. Ugarte leads the Primeira Liga this season for tackles made as well as tackles won. That would enable him to win the ball back speedily for Chelsea, before unlocking Kante to maraud forward or Enzo to pick out a deft pass to an attacker or full-back.
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Ugarte (CM) — Enzo (CAM) — Kovacic (CM)
If Kante leaves when his contract expires and Mateo Kovacic — who is reportedly attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich — remains at the club, then Kovacic could be the ideal dynamic partner to the tough-tackling Uruguayan.
Although Kovacic had become a fans’ favourite at Stamford Bridge and won Chelsea player of the year in 2020, he struggled with knee and calf injuries as well as his own form this season during Chelsea’s turbulent campaign.
But with Enzo ahead of him and Ugarte alongside him, this could have the makings of a very well-balanced midfield trio, with Kovacic’s experience balancing out the youth of the two 22-year-olds.
