Man Utd swap deal chance opens up as 'Jorge Mendes offers midfielder to two clubs'

Manuel Ugarte is being linked with a departure from Manchester United in a deal that could see the Red Devils secure AC Milan star Rafael Leao's signature at Old Trafford . Ugarte's future at United has been the focus of considerable speculation for several months, especially following Ruben Amorim's departure from the club. Michael Carrick assumed interim charge of United in January and there remains doubt over who might be the permanent boss at the club for next season. Amidst the uncertainty, it appears that Ugarte's prospects at United are anything but secure with reports suggesting that a summer exit could be on the horizon. Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that Ugarte's representative, Jorge Mendes, has "offered" the midfielder to both AC Milan and Juventus in advance of this summer's transfer window. Milan are said to be prepared to part company with Leao, with the Portugal international rumoured to be a target of interest to United this summer. The same report suggests that Milan are open to entertaining offers for Leao this summer, with various other sources indicating that the forward is valued at approximately €50 million (£43m). Milan inserted a €175m (£152m) release clause into Leao's contract, yet it has been suggested it will be "impossible" for the Serie A giants to command that figure for the 26-year-old this summer. Milan are also reportedly exploring the prospect of bringing Marcus Rashford in from United as a potential successor to Leao, amid growing uncertainty over the England international's future following his loan stint at Barcelona . What lies ahead for Ugarte remains to be seen, including whether a move for the Uruguay international could materialise and whether this might pave the way for a potential deal to bring Leao to Old Trafford from Milan. Ugarte has racked up 69 appearances for United since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, yet has featured just 24 times for the club this campaign, including seven outings since Carrick was appointed as interim head coach. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page The news surrounding Ugarte comes as Kobbie Mainoo puts pen to paper on a new long-term deal at United, tying the talented young midfielder to Old Trafford until the summer of 2031. Ugarte was named in United's starting XI for the defeat against Leeds earlier this month, with Carrick subsequently explaining his decision to recall the midfielder to the side. "Manu comes in tonight,” Carrick told Sky Sports . “He came on and did well for us in the last game at Bournemouth and went away and played well for Uruguay so he's well up to speed. "He's been great in training and done great all the way through really and part of what we've done, even though it's not obvious because Kobbie (Mainoo) and Case (Casemiro) have played a lot. “So yeah, comes in tonight, big opportunity for him to show himself and we deal with Kobbie being out." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.