Atletico Madrid could look to sign Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte in the winter transfer window.

According to a report from Fichajes, Atletico Madrid are keen on adding more quality to their midfield at the turn of the calendar, and they have their eyes set on Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte.

The Uruguayan international made quite a name for himself with his impressive performances at Sporting CP. On the back of his sensational rise, PSG invested a significant fee to sign the 24-year-old.

After failing to make an impact at the French club, he made the move to United in the summer of 2024. Ugarte has had a decent role at the Manchester-based club, but he is yet to return to his best. While his contract runs until the summer of 2029, he could be on the move in January.

Despite not being at his best, his positional play, strong physical presence and defensive abilities have caught the attention of Diego Simeone, who seeks more quality in the centre of the park.

Simeone wants to sign Ugarte

The Argentine manager wants more competition in his midfield double pivot. While he has Koke, Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher and Johnny Cardoso at his disposal, Simeone feels the lack of an out-and-out defensive midfielder, who can provide balance to his midfield.

He considers Ugarte an ideal fit for his system and could be willing to make room for his arrival by sanctioning Gallagher’s departure. Atletico are considering signing him on loan with a buy option worth around €30 million in the winter window.

Having forked out a fortune on summer signings, a loan-to-buy option is the best possible solution for the Madrid-based club. Meanwhile, United are willing to add more quality to their midfield and since Ugarte doesn’t have a prominent role under Ruben Amorim, they could certainly be interested in a potential departure for the right price.

The 24-year-old could give the green light to the move as he wants to play regular first-team football and strengthen his case for a starting spot in Marcelo Bielsa’s team for the World Cup next summer.