After a whole summer of speculation and wrangling, a Manuel Ugarte Man United debut is finally on the cards, but can the midfielder get the Red Devils out of their latest crisis?
Ugarte has signed for an initial £42.5m, but his total transfer fee could eclipse £50m if his bonuses and add-ons are met.
The Uruguayan did not appear in the Red Devils' 3-0 humiliation at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool, but is expected to appear in their next league fixture against Southampton.
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Red Devils’ record against Southampton bodes well for Ugarte Man United debut
Southampton have returned to the Premier League after just one season in the Championship. Manager Russell Martin has recruited aggressively, spending almost £100m on 14 new signings.
However, the Saints will be dreading the Red Devils' arrival on the south coast. They have not beaten Man United since January 2016, when Charlie Austin netted a late winner at Old Trafford.
Overall, since their promotion to the top flight in 2012/13, the Saints have won just two of the 22 Premier League encounters between the pair.
Intriguingly, their two wins both came at Old Trafford, with United having won seven of their last 12 visits to St. Mary's with no losses. To add insult to injury, United inflicted a record-matching 9-0 loss on Southampton in 2021.
Ugarte will likely face Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu in midfield, with the two physical midfielders expected to battle it out for supremacy.
Where will Ugarte play for Man United?
Manchester United have generally played a 4-2-3-1 under manager Erik ten Hag. Two wide-men flank number 10 Bruno Fernandes, with two midfielders sitting deeper.
Kobbie Mainoo was a revelation in double pivot last season, providing invaluable ball progression and bravery in buildup, but his frequent partner, Casemiro, looks a shadow of his former self.
The Brazilian has struggled to cover the ground required in his role, and was caught out horribly in possession during the Red Devils' recent 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.
No midfielder in Europe has completed more tackles and interceptions since the start of 2022/23 than Ugarte, and the Uruguayan is expected to replace Casemiro to provide Mainoo the freedom and cover to express himself.
Ugarte Man United debut: can he turn things around for Ten Hag?
It is essential that Ugarte hits the ground running at United. After a quietly impressive 1-0 win on the opening night of the Premier League over Fulham, the Red Devils quickly ran adrift at Brighton, where the Seasiders capitalised on a litany of errors.
On matchday three, however, the Red Devils entered yet another early season crisis, with Arne Slot outclassing Ten Hag in the technical area.
The United manager is already under considerable pressure despite only signing a new contract this summer.
As mentioned above, Casemiro was responsible for several big concessions. He was exposed and clearly targeted by Liverpool as a weak point, both on and off the ball.
United needs Ugarte to provide two things straight away: a more nimble defensive screen in front of their back four and a safer pair of feet in buildup than Casemiro has been in recent months. There is reason to believe he can do both.
United fans, and ten Hag, will be hoping that Ugarte can make the same kind of impact Casemiro actually made when he joined in 2022, and lift the team out of an early season malaise.
To avoid falling behind rivals in the race for the Champions League places, United really need Ugarte to be an instant hit against Southampton.
