- Manchester United are planning on upgrading their midfield in the summer
- Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana is on their list of candidates
- A swap deal including Manuel Ugarte plus cash may emerge
Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana is attracting interest from Manchester United, as the Red Devils look to upgrade their midfield.
The Belgian international is reportedly valued at around £50 million, the same figure that Villa paid Everton in July 2024.
As the Red Devils look to inject power and height into their engine room, internal discussions have reportedly touched on a creative solution to bridge the valuation gap: a player-plus-cash deal involving Manuel Ugarte.
While Ugarte only arrived at Old Trafford last summer, his profile could tempt Villa boss Unai Emery as United looks to outmaneuver rivals for Onana’s signature.
With United’s hierarchy prioritising a more dominant physical presence in the center of the park, the Belgian international has moved to the top of the shortlist, setting the stage for one of the window’s most intriguing transfer sagas.
According to Manchester World, the 24-year-old is on a long list of potential targets by Michael Carrick.
A potential move to Old Trafford may see Manuel Ugarte move the other way, with the Villans supposedly interested in the Uruguayan, having attempted a loan move back in January. He is allowed to leave this summer to free up some funds for their transfer budget.
United would likely have to include at least £10 million extra for the values of each player to even come close, given that the former PSG man is worth around £35 million.
Does the deal make sense for Villa?
On paper, the move doesn’t really benefit Villa unless Onana pushes to leave. He is their enforcer in midfield and is a type of player they have lacked in the squad for many seasons.
Ugarte hasn’t been performing well since he moved to Manchester in August 2024. The 24-year-old is also a very different profile to the Belgian and wouldn’t really offer Unai Emery anything he doesn’t already have.
Youri Tielemans is one of the club’s best players, and his technical ability on the ball drastically improves the quality of the team.
Boubacar Kamara goes under the radar as one of the Premier League’s finest defensive midfielders, with his incredible composure and reading of the play.
In addition, Ugarte’s current form doesn’t seem the right fit for Villa. They need high-calibre players that can enable them to consistently qualify for the Champions League. Their difficulties with the financial rules also mean they don’t have the freedom to take a gamble that could go wrong.
Furthermore, their midfield is the last area they need to focus on in terms of upgrades. It is already stacked with quality, as previously mentioned, and the problems they have with a lack of goals in the forward areas suggest they need to prioritise that first.
This summer is crucial for the next stage of the club; there may be a squad refresh, and so new arrivals need to be at the level required for them to achieve their objectives.
Therefore, a potential swap deal with Onana leaving and Ugarte coming in doesn’t seem too favourable for Villa.
