Newcastle have been linked with Manuel Ugarte this summer, and the feeling around St James’ Park is pretty clear: they like him. The problem is—so does everyone else, or at least the clubs who can move quickest.
At the same time, Newcastle are dealing with plenty of uncertainty in their own midfield. Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joe Willock have all been connected with potential exits from the club, and that’s not exactly the kind of backdrop where you can comfortably wait and see how the market develops.
Misryoum newsroom reported that Ugarte is admired by Juventus, and that Newcastle may end up fighting them—plus several top European sides—for the same target. The transfer picture, in other words, isn’t just Newcastle vs. one opponent. It’s a crowded race.
And when you look at Newcastle’s wider situation, the timing feels tricky. Newcastle have struggled in the Premier League this season and look set to miss out on Champions League qualification for next term. That kind of pressure can shape what a player is willing to do, and what the club can realistically offer—even if they like the idea of bringing someone in. Ugarte is 25, and while Misryoum newsroom reporting says he has struggled to make his mark at United, he’s still likely to want to keep playing at the highest level.
Here’s part of why the Ugarte conversation keeps coming up anyway: his Premier League output in 2025-26. Appearances (starts) are listed as 21 (7), with 791′ minutes played. The numbers also show an 84.8% successful pass rate, a 77.8% successful dribble rate, 8.19 duels won, 0.89 tackles per 90, 2.05 interceptions per 90, and 2.5 fouls committed per 90.
Misryoum newsroom reporting also points to the idea that Newcastle’s interest might not be enough to win the deal. The Misryoum editorial desk stated, based on discussion around the summer market, that there’s more interest from other European teams in Ugarte. Misryoum analysis indicates Juventus are big admirers and would be interested too, and there’s been talk of interest from Turkey as well. “So he might be a player that Newcastle like,” Misryoum editorial desk noted, “but I don’t think it’s going any further than that.” The same reporting also suggests other clubs are probably ahead in the race.
If Ugarte ends up slipping away, Newcastle may have to pivot quickly to other midfield additions. And that’s not even the only story in their transfer room right now—because Tonali’s future could also swing the other way. Misryoum newsroom reported that Newcastle will accept £80m offers for Tonali as they look to comply with the Premier League’s new financial rules. There were links with Arsenal earlier in the January window, but Misryoum editorial team stated that United and Man City are now believed to be the frontrunners for his services ahead of the summer. Somewhere in all this, it’s the same feeling you get when the crowd noise swells outside St James’ Park—excitement mixed with impatience—and then the sound fades while you wait for the next update.
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