Man United are hoping to offload Manuel Ugarte and bring in another midfielder but the task of moving on the Uruguayan has been made even tougher.

Offloading a player with a book value of around £30million who made just eight league starts last season always looked an arduous task, but the World Cup offered Manchester United a lifeline in their desire to cut ties with Manuel Ugarte.

Starting for a team some fancied to reach the latter stages offered Ugarte the chance to place himself firmly in the shop window after what has been a hugely underwhelming two years in Manchester. It all sounded great on paper but it hasn’t gone to plan.

Ugarte carried his club form onto the international stage, starting all three group games as Marcelo Bielsa’s side limped to an early exit with just two points to their name.

To make matters worse, Ugarte picked up what looked to be a nasty injury in his side’s final game of the competition against Spain in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Shortly before Álex Baena fired home the winning goal, Ugarte twisted awkwardly as he tried to make a tackle in the build-up. The United midfielder looked distraught as was carried off the field on a stretcher. United must now wait for Uruguay’s medical staff to give them an update on the injury, but the early signs didn’t look good.

The Manchester Evening News reported on Saturday that United planned to sign a third midfielder during the transfer window as long as they could find a buyer for Ugarte. If Ugarte remains at Old Trafford it looks set to be a case of two and done.

There have been glimpses of the quality United thought they were buying when they paid Paris Saint-Germain £50.8m for Ugarte back in 2024.

His maiden year in England was written off as a season adapting to life in a new country and a new league, and some stellar showings in United’s pre-season tour of America last summer suggested his Old Trafford career could soon have lift-off. Alas, Ugarte summed his 2025/26 campaign up when writing on social media back in May: “A season with many difficult moments.”

It’s a waiting game now for United as they hope for positive news on Ugarte’s injury. If it’s a lengthy spell on the sidelines then United’s plan to sign three midfielders might just have gone up in smoke.

Manchester United will have learned the positions of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui heading into the 2026/27 season

Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are set to compete for Manchester United’s right‑back spot next season, with both players clear about their Reds futures. There had been speculation that United might look abroad for another right‑back, with the club aiming to reinforce both defence and midfield this summer.

United’s need to strengthen midfield is no secret, with mainstay Casemiro departing following the expiration of his contract. Ederson will become the club’s first signing of the window, though he is yet to be unveiled – with that expected to happen after Brazil’s World Cup campaign.

United are set to pay an initial €40.5million (£35m), plus €4.5m (£3.8m) in add‑ons for the 26‑year‑old. The former Atalanta midfielder made his World Cup debut off the bench in the 3‑0 win over Haiti last Friday after being called up to replace the injured Wesley.

However, he is not expected to be the only addition to Michael Carrick’s squad. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes has been identified as a potential target alongside Adam Wharton, while Elliot Anderson had also been on the list before Manchester City moved ahead and completed the £116million deal.

The right‑back department, however, could remain unchanged, with Dalot and Mazraoui both keen to fight for their place in the starting XI. Sources close to the pair ‘insist’ neither is looking to leave, according to The Sun.

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Dalot is heading into his ninth season at Old Trafford, while Mazraoui, who endured a stop‑start campaign with just 11 starts is said to be happy in Manchester. The Morocco international missed eight games between December and January due to injury.

Specialist wingers Bryan Mbeumo and Amad are the other two options on United’s settled right‑hand side. The left‑back position is expected to be reinforced, with Crysencio Summerville featuring prominently on the club’s shortlist.

West Ham have begun lining up reinforcements and have earmarked Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu as a potential summer addition. Crysencio Summerville – along with Jarrod Bowen – has also attracted significant interest, with the pair emerging as two of the most sought‑after names following the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship.

Lewis Hall is also under consideration, albeit it’s understood that it has not resulted in a concrete offer from the Reds. He is under contract at Newcastle United until the summer of 2029.

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Malachy O’Rourke opted for a tactical switch at the start of the second half and handed Niall Devlin the responsibility of tailing David Clifford.

The All-Ireland champions outscored Tyrone 0-5 to 0-2 across the opening 10 minutes of the half, Dylan Geaney and David Clifford (free) firing over from two-point range to extend their lead to five.

Darren McCurry was sprung from the bench in response, and immediately got into the action by nailing a difficult two-point free.

The Ulster side had a chance to level from the next attack, Donnelly feeding McElholm through, but his angle was quickly narrowed as Shane Murphy made a brave stop.

Kerry almost killed off the Tyrone charge on 50 minutes. Sean O’Shea, just on to the field, squared the ball to Dylan Geaney on the edge of the area, and with the goal gaping, his pass was over-hit.

The warning shot seemed to fire-up the men in white and red, as they hit the next three points, McElholm and McCurry shooting over, before McElholm put one between the sides blazing over via the crossbar with many waiting for the net to bulge.

Dylan Geaney was in inspired form and kicked the next three scores, including his second two-pointer.

Not to be outdone, McCurry landed his second two-pointer from a free, as Kerry were punished for failing to keep three players in attack. When Donnelly followed up with his third of the day, there was just one point between the sides with 15 minutes left.

McCurry and David Clifford started to have their own personal battle on the scoreboard with little to separate the sides, before Paudie Clifford landed a 45′ after a disputed effort which the Tyrone players felt went wide, only for the umpire to award the 45′.

Super-sub McCurry kicked his eighth and ninth points to leave one in it with three to play.

Paudie Clifford and McCurry traded efforts heading into the final play of the match, Kerry winning their own kick-out as Armin Heinrich finished to the net on the hooter as Tyrone desperately tried to win the ball back at the death.

Former Liverpool standout and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah left Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Iran at the World Cup because of a left knee injury, coach Hossam Hassan said.

In the 57th minute, Salah was surprisingly replaced by Mostafa Zico. In comments translated from Arabic, Hassan said Salah is being assessed by the team’s medical staff, and will have another examination when Egypt returns to the team hotel.

“I talked to Salah and he said he’s going to be OK and it’s not a big injury,” Hassan said. “We still have time to talk to the medical staff. I think he will be back, and when I spoke to Salah he assured me he’s going to be OK.”

Ahead of the tournament, Hassan expressed a quiet confidence in the roster around Salah. Egypt made good on Hassan’s goal of the team advancing past the group stage for the first time in the expanded field.

It would still be a serious blow for Egypt if Salah is not able to play in the knockout round against Australia next Friday.

The four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner scored his 68th international goal in the Pharaohs’ first World Cup win, a 3-1 victory against New Zealand. The 34-year-old has assisted on two other goals in the tournament.

Reporting for the Associated Press.