Man Utd could see bid accepted for £26m ‘Warrior’

It could be argued that Manchester UnitedNewcastle United’s recent triumph came almost despite Ruben AmorimCasemiro’s replacements are not the only ones who remain rather incredulous at the Portuguese’s selection decisions.

Indeed, replacing Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw with a few minutes to go seemed a particularly bizarre decision, as did the decision to withdraw the aging Brazilian on the hour mark.

At a time when an already light midfield unit was further depleted by the loss of Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes to injury, such a change could have proved costly, even with Amorim emphasizing the need for “freshness” in that second half.

The gamble, in a way, paid off as the hosts held on at Old Trafford, but the sight of a midfield duo of teenager Jack Fletcher and struggling player Manuel Ugarté This should be enough to force INEOS into the market next month.

Ugarte, in particular, appears to need replacing if United are to hit the ground running under Amorim.

Man Utd could have their offer accepted for Ugarte replacement

For the first time in eight attempts, the Red Devils have won a match with Ugarte in the starting line-up, the unfortunate record underlining why the Uruguayan has become such a maligned figure among the Old Trafford faithful.

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha reacts after missing a chance to score as Manuel Ugarte looks on

Starting in just four Premier League matches this season, the 24-year-old is yet to find his rhythm in Manchester, even after reuniting with his former boss at Sporting CP, having even reportedly was criticized by Amorim in front of his teammates at the end of last season.

Its reputation is such that reports have indicated that INEOS would be open to offers for Ugarte in the new year, with the club hierarchy intending to oversee a midfield overhaul in 2026.

Players like Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton remain major long-term targets, but if Amorim wants a quick fix then Atletico Madrid Conor Gallagher maybe it’s just the man.

According to reports in Spainthe Red Devils are “seriously considering” making a move for the ex-Chelsea star, having had the 25-year-old on their radar for some time.

According to the report, United have been told what kind of offer it would take to lure the Englishman from the Spanish capital, with Atleti having set an asking price of €30m (£26m).

Why Gallagher would be the perfect upgrade to Ugarte

As noted above, United could aim higher ahead of next summer, but the midfield’s current issues simply need to be resolved, hence why a proven Premier League figure like Gallagher is a must.

Ugarte, having sat through much of the campaign, had his chance in recent weeks, but he just didn’t take it.

Against Aston Villa, for example, he was substituted late after winning just seven of his 14 ground duels, while being dribbled past twice.

Against Newcastle, meanwhile, he lost possession 12 times, while being dribbled past the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes three times.

Ugarte – v Villa & Newcastle
Statistical	Villa	Newcastle
Minutes	73	90
Keys	44	63
Key passes	0	1
Success accuracy	84%	73%
Dribbling	1/1	2/2
Ground duels	7/14	8/15
Aerial duels	1/1	0/1
Lost possession	7	12
Dribbled pass	2	3
Statistics via Sofascore

An upgrade is therefore a necessity for INEOS as January approaches, with Gallagher the type of value option that could fit in well, possessing the same running power as Ugarte, but with a far superior end product.

Hailed as a “warrior” by talent scout Jacek KuligThe Atleti star has scored three times this season so far, taking his tally to 14 goals and assists in 75 games since joining Diego Simeone’s side in 2024.

Conor Gallagher's record in England (timeless)

The move came despite his best season at Chelsea the previous year, finishing 2023/24 with 16 goals and assists for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino.

Previously described by talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino as “N’Golo Kanté with goals“, Gallagher is the true all-rounder, notably ranking in the top 6% of European midfielders for non-penalty goals per 90, according to FBref, as well as in the top 3% for interceptions.

Ugarte, for example, ranks in the top 1% for tackles, although it’s the other aspect of his game that is lacking, as he only ranks in the top 37% for non-penalty goals.

This difference in quality can also be seen by how Gallagher improves on the South American in a series of per-90 metrics, including progressive carries (1.97 vs. 0.78), touches in the opponent’s box (2.97 vs. 0.78) and pass completion (88% vs. 84.8%), once again highlighting why he is the superior box-to-box asset.

A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 meters from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.

Ugarte, a player who has scored just six career goals at senior level, is just a stable Eddie, lacking the real quality needed to thrive in a Premier League midfield.