AC Milan are looking at options to boost the quality of the midfield department ahead of next summer and they have cast their eyes towards Portugal, a report claims.
Calciomercato.com and 90min are both reporting that Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are admirers of Manuel Ugarte, a 21-year-old holding midfielder who has impressed for Sporting CP and who could fill the void that was not really filled when Franck Kessie left last summer.
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Stefano Pioli has used Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer in the double pivot but the lack of a real alternative has been noticeable given Aster Vranckx and Tommaso Pobega have barely been used while Rade Krunic remains a utility man.
Ugarte played in the youth system at Fenix - a team from Montevideo in Uruguay – before moving to Portugal in December 2020 and signing a contract until 2025 with Famalicao in a deal worth €4m. The next year he went to Sporting for €7m and signed a deal until 2026.
He already has six appearances for Uruguay after coming through with the U20 and U23 national team and he is a physical presence that is good on the ball. He prefers being deployed at the base of a three-man midfield but can also play in a tandem.
