Liverpool rejected chance to sign Man Utd flop weeks after Arne Slot took charge
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Liverpool FC NewsTransfer NewsTransfersLiverpool was in the market for a new No.6 during Arne Slot's first summer in charge, but after missing out on Martin Zubimendi the club decided against signing an alternativeArne Slot wanted a new midfielder(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool rejected the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte before Manchester United signed the Uruguay international two years ago.The Reds were in the market for a new No.6 to anchor their midfield in the summer that Arne Slot arrived at the club, but did not end up signing anyone to fill that position.Instead, Ryan Gravenberch was repurposed into a holding midfielder, and ended up playing a crucial role in Liverpool's run to the title last term.The team could've had a very different look to it, though, if the club had taken the chance to sign Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain.READ MORE: Arsenal could beat Liverpool to dream transfer that would make it unstoppableREAD MORE: Anthony Gordon 'opens transfer talks' as Newcastle stance on summer exit emergesUgarte was offered to Liverpool in the same transfer window that the club missed out on Martin Zubimendi, but Liverpool ultimately decided that it would rather go without signing anyone than sign an inferior alternative to the Spaniard, who eventually ended up signing for Arsenal.“They didn’t sign an alternative to Zubimendi in 2024 because they felt there wasn’t a suitable player on the market," Pearce said.“At the time they were offered the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain but didn’t fancy him.”Ugarte ended up joining United instead, but he has proven to be a colossal disappointment for the Red Devils, with supporters regularly bemoaning his lack of quality on the ball.United signed Ugarte for fee that could possibly rise to $69 million, but after a debut season in which he started 22 Premier League games, he has lined up just eight times in the top flight this time around.During the first half of the season, Ruben Amorim paired Bruno Fernandes with Casemiro in United's two-man midfield.Manuel Ugarte has been a disappointing signing for Manchester United(Image: 2026 Getty Images)And since Amorim's exit, his replacement Michael Carrick has been playing Kobbie Mainoo alongside Casemiro, with Fernandes being moved into a more advanced position.Liverpool, meanwhile, could be in the market for a new midfielder this summer, amid uncertainty over several midfielders who are currently in Slot's squad.Alexis Mac Allister continues to be linked with a move away after a difficult season, while there is also uncertainty over the future of Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo.Jones has been linked with a move to Tottenham as he eyes more regular game time in his favored position after struggling to nail down a regular starting spot in Liverpool's midfield.Jones has played at right-back in recent weeks, acquitting himself well, but it has been reported that he wants to play in midfield more frequently.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCTransfers