Manchester United are in the transfer market for a new midfielder this summer and one name who has been linked has just won the Euros with Spain.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have been busy in the summer transfer window, with the Red Devils confirming the signing of Leny Yoro from Lille last week.
United have also signed Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee as Dan Ashworth gets his feet firmly under the table at Old Trafford as the club’s new sporting director.
A new midfielder looks to be next on the list with United reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
United must target £50 million midfielder, he’s been compared to Sergio Busquets
A deal for Manuel Ugarte would be a sensible one, considering the Uruguayan midfielder had a strong tournament with his national team at Copa America.
However, a move for Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi should be considered instead, due to the quality on offer for such a reasonable and similar price.
United’s interest in Zubimendi dates back to 2022 and the Spaniard has only got stronger since he faced the club with Real Sociedad.
According to talkSPORT, United have Zubimendi on their list of targets and the 25-year-old has a release clause in his deal at £50 million.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the Spaniard, who was hailed by former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez as ‘extraordinary’ last season when he spoke to Mundo Deportivo.
Fabrizio Romano claimed that Xavi believed Zubimendi could be the next Sergio Busquets, however, a deal has been beyond Barcelona’s financial reach.
Why Martin Zubimendi is the right fit.
Zubimendi made his debut for Real Sociedad back in 2019 and now has over 100 appearances for the Spanish club.
His abilities on the ball, and his work rate off it, makes him the perfect profile of midfielder that United should target, one who could be the ideal partner to Kobbie Mainoo
According to Statistic website FBREF, the midfielder completes 86 per cent of his passes and he would be a significant upgrade on a declining Casemiro, who completed just 81 per cent of his passes. He also completes 5.62 progressive passes per 90.
Another important point is that Zubimendi’s strong sense of positioning would allow Kobbie Mainoo to push forward.
Mainoo produced moments of goalscoring brilliance against Wolves and Liverpool, before netting the decisive goal in the FA Cup final.
Signing a midfielder like Zubimendi who would push Mainoo higher up the pitch could well be two signings in one, and this would allow the United teenager to flourish.
Whilst Ugarte would also offer this, the Uruguayan has a tendency to lunge into tackles and earned himself with seven yellow cards to his name last season, with 16 cautions during his final season at Sporting Lisbon. Compared to Zubimendi, who had just five last season, Ugarte may not be the right choice.