Ratcliffe Ready to Move On from Ugarte as United Eye Anderson Swoop

With a top-five Premier League finish now firmly in sight, Manchester United's new ownership structure is already casting its eye towards the summer rebuild—and it appears Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made his first significant decision about the squad's direction.

The INEOS-led hierarchy intends to revamp United's midfield this off-season following Casemiro's announcement back in January that he'll depart Old Trafford when the campaign concludes. The club's ambition is to recruit two fresh faces for the engine room, and they've already earmarked their primary target.

That man is Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old has impressed considerably since arriving at the City Ground from Newcastle in summer 2024, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most dynamic midfielders. Anderson tops United's shopping list precisely because of his all-action approach to the game, but Forest will demand £125m to part with him.

There's a complication, though. Manchester City are also circling the England international, and Anderson himself is reportedly more inclined towards a move to the Etihad—particularly with City on course for another title. That means United face a two-pronged challenge: both luring Anderson away from a rival club and stumping up the considerable fee.

To finance such an outlay, Ratcliffe has identified his solution: Manuel Ugarte must go. The United co-owner has personally decided that the Uruguay midfielder should be made available for transfer, and a recent performance appears to have crystallised his thinking.

Ratcliffe watched from the directors' box as United lost 2-1 to Leeds at Old Trafford earlier this month, and Ugarte's showing in that defeat did little to impress the watching executive. The 25-year-old, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.5m in 2024, played the full 90 minutes but delivered a display that fell well short of expectations.

Since his arrival, Ugarte has made 69 appearances for the club, contributing two goals and six assists. He remains contracted until summer 2029, with an additional year available as an option, but it appears his United tenure may be heading towards an early conclusion.