Manchester United look to have wrapped up their latest signing of the summer transfer window as they have reportedly agreed a deal to sign midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
Currently on the books at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and having previously played for Sporting Lisbon, where Man United have plenty of success recruiting from in the past, Ugarte was left out of the French side’s starting lineup for the second game in a row last week as both parties began pushing for the move.
United were said to have agreed to personal terms with the player back in July but PSG have held out for the strongest offer possible, looking to recoup the full fee they paid for him when he left Portugal.
After the move looked to have stalled and the club were thought to be looking at other alternatives, the 12-time Ligue 1 champions have finally budged and agreed a deal worth upwards of £42.2 million for the 23-year-old’s services.
Most tackles + interceptions across Europe since the start of 2022/2023:
🥇 Manuel Ugarte (403) 🥈 João Palhinha (392) 🥉 Florentino Luís (367)
As confirmed by multiple outlets, the central midfielder is set to travel to Manchester for his medical on Tuesday ahead of becoming the fifth player of the Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS era.
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It is still unclear as to how long his contract length is at this stage but it is thought that the fee could rise to around £51.1m with add-ons.
Once over the lines, this will mean United will have spent over £200m on new players already this season, having also brought in three defenders and a new forward.
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Being brought in to be a combative and disruptive influence in the middle of the park, the Uruguayan led the division in tackles last season in 37 appearances across all competitions, and only 21 of those coming from the start during the entire campaign.
Most tackles + interceptions across Europe since the start of 2022/2023:
🥇 Manuel Ugarte (403) 🥈 João Palhinha (392) 🥉 Florentino Luís (367)
But the move doesn’t come without another player leaving by the looks of things, as Man United are also said to have agreed to let academy graduate turned first-team regular Scott McTominay leave the club after 22 years.
McTominay, 27, was the subject of much interest from around the Premier League, including offers from West Ham and Fulham, but he is now set to join Serie A side Napoli.
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The Italian giants have agreed to pay approximately £25 for the Lancaster-born Scottish international who emerged as a key attacking threat under Erik ten Hag last season – a sum needed in addition to other recent outgoings like Wan-Bissaka and Pellistri in order for United to stay in line with PSR.
Despite being a somewhat divisive figure at times, he is still considered by many as having become an important squad and impact player whose loyalty and commitment to the club was never called into question. He registered 10 goals and three assists in 23/24.
What do we reckon then, Reds: does Ugarte look like a good signing to you and does McTominay looking set to go the other way still make it a good business?
Tributes paid as Curzon Ashton FC founder Harry Twamley dies following a ‘long illness’
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring as local team Curzon Ashton FC have confirmed that club founder Harry Twamley BEM has sadly passed awayat the age of 82.
Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, the National League North side shared the news on Wednesday morning, with fans across the region as well as up and down the English footballing pyramid paying their respects.
Posting on social media, the Curzon Ashton official accounts wrote: “It is with deep regret that we announce that Harry Twamley (BEM) passed away after a long illness.”
“Our condolences are expressed to Richard and Jayne and to the rest of his family at this time.”
While they explained that a full statement will be shared online in the coming days, the initial announcement on the club website featured heartfelt words from former club chairman Wayne Salkeld, who took over from Twamley back in the 2018/19 season, spending five years at the helm.
Salkeld said: “It’s a sad day for everyone at the club. I was honoured when Harry asked me to become chairman in 2018/19 and I will never forget that day.
“I’m going to miss our phone calls which were every day. Thanks for the memories and we will work hard to keep your legacy going.”
Curzon Ashton director Oliver Newall also shared a touching tribute to the club founder, who set up the club back in 1963, adding: “What an incredible man. Someone who brought Curzon Ashton into the world and whom without we would not have had so many amazing moments and memories.
“The word legend gets thrown around too often… Harry Twamley was a legend and he will be missed so much.” He was joined by numerous fans and other clubs in offering their condolences.
Other teams paying tribute included Salford City, Saddleworth Cricket Club and nearby non-league outfit, FC United of Manchester.
The lattermost wrote: “From all at FC United, we would like to pay our respects to a legend of the game in Greater Manchester, we ground-shared at Curzon Ashton and saw first-hand what an immense character Harry was.”
Twamley was named in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list back in 2017 and awarded an Order of the British Empire medal for his services to amateur football. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, The Nash and their supporters.
Rest in peace to an important local figure and treasured champion of the grassroots game.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City is looking for some diehard fans to be part of a new documentary series by sharing their love for the club.
The Sky Blues are no stranger to a documentary, having had several successful series and feature-length shows air on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the club’s own online TV platform CITY+, over the past couple of years – drawing in millions of viewers across the globe each time.
But now, it sounds like there’s another one in the works… and you could be a part of it.
The football club is looking for families with four generations of supporters to share their special memories of following Manchester City down the years.
📣 We’re looking for diehard fans to share their special City memories for an exciting new documentary series!
On top of this, the club is also keen to find fan videos that can help take documentary viewers into the stands from a City fan’s perspective, and is asking that people get in touch and send footage that they’ve taken of some of the club’s most famous moments from over the years – including reactions to Sergio Aguero’s famous goal against QPR in 2012, and the Treble-winning season.
Footage could also be submitted from other important milestones such as the 1999 play off final, or from things like random away days in the 1980s, or even City-themed kids’ birthday parties from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
No matter whether the footage was taken on a mobile phone, old-school video camera, or something similar, it could come in useful.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series / Credit: Manchester City
The only condition is that all footage submitted by fans must be their own, and not recordings from commercial media, or copied from YouTube or any other media/social media outlets.
Keen to be a part of the production then?
If you would like you and your family to be considered for the documentary, then you can email [email protected] with your details and stories about supporting City.