In a recent print edition, Record stated that Tottenham Hotspur want to land Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte. It has been claimed that Spurs have promised to make their intentions known to recruit the Uruguay international.
Ugarte’s Decent Numbers In Portuguese Football
Ugarte is having a decent campaign at Sporting as he has managed to perform at a high level for them in the middle of the park. The Uruguayan sensation has made 44 appearances for the Portuguese outfit this season, picking up one assist across various competitions.
The 22-year-old has anchored the midfield with conviction by averaging 3.9 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 0.5 clearances, 0.6 shots, 0.5 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal. He has even been excellent with his ball distribution after completing 91.3% of his attempted passes in the Portuguese first division (stats via whoscored).
Ugarte is under contract at the Portuguese club until the summer of 2026. Therefore, Spurs will have to make a sizable offer if they want to bring him to North London later this year.
Should Tottenham Hotspur Get Ugarte On Board This Summer?
Ugarte is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team at the centre of the park. He doesn’t mind clearing the danger when required and can also create a few decent plays for others around him.
The Uruguay international can make a few promising runs runs with the ball as well from midfield. He is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also fill in as a box-to-box midfielder if told to do so.
Ugarte is good enough to fight for a regular starting spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He would no doubt add more quality to Spurs‘ midfield department and could even help the North London club challenge for some major silverware over the next few seasons.
At 22, Ugarte has his best years ahead of him which makes a decent option for Tottenham to consider during this summer transfer period. However, there are some concerns over whether he has what it takes to cope with the physical side and high intensity of Premier League football. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting him, so Tottenham should get him on board this summer.
