Manchester United's £60 million defensive midfielder might be loaned to Atletico Madrid this winter! Amolin is dissatisfied with him, but could be replaced by a top British player.

Spanish outlet "Fichajes" reports that Atletico Madrid aims to loan Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte in the upcoming January window. The Red Devils intend to sign a new midfielder, potentially pushing Ugarte out. Both he and competitor Koby Meno face an uncertain future. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano verified that Ugarte had offers during the summer window and that Manchester United would entertain suitable proposals going forward.

The 24-year-old Ugarte rose to prominence under Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, leading to a high-value transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. However, he was sidelined under Luis Enrique and last season moved to Manchester United for €60 million. While his performance under mentor Amorim has been acceptable, he has yet to reach his peak form.

Amorin has often been reluctant to use Ugarte in key matches, deploying him mainly for defensive duties, such as in away games against Manchester City and during the second half versus Chelsea. Meanwhile, Atletico's coach Diego Simeone values his physicality, stamina, and defensive skills, and is keen to try signing him next year. Simeone believes his squad lacks a genuinely defensive midfielder to provide balance to the formation.

Simeone considers Ugarte a perfect fit for his team's system and may be willing to approve Connor Gallagher's departure to make room for him. Spanish media suggests Atletico is contemplating a loan-to-buy deal for Ugarte in the winter transfer window, with a buyout clause around €30 million, though this might not satisfy Manchester United.

Ugarte himself might be open to a loan move, as next year is the 2026 World Cup year. He desires consistent first-team playing time to boost his chances of securing a starting spot in the Uruguay national team led by Marcelo Bielsa.

During this month's international break, Ugarte first came off the bench to help Uruguay secure a 3-0 victory over Peru, confirming their qualification for the 2026 World Cup early. He then returned to the starting lineup against Chile, but Uruguay drew 0-0 with the bottom-ranked team. After the match, Bielsa criticized the midfielders' efficiency, including Ugarte, who is no longer considered an automatic starter for Uruguay and must work hard to regain the coach's trust.

Interestingly, Atletico's English international Gallagher is also one of Manchester United's transfer targets. It is said the Red Devils tried a last-minute loan for Gallagher in the summer window but failed to reach an agreement. Gallagher, a Chelsea academy product, has played over 130 Premier League matches and is a regular for the England national team, so he wouldn't need time to adapt.

According to "Open Stand," several Premier League clubs have expressed interest in Gallagher to Atletico and want to stay updated before the January transfer window. Manchester United is among them. The possibility of a January move remains, especially after Atletico signed Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis in the summer, which has further lowered Gallagher's status in the team, where he is behind Koke and Pablo Barrios in midfield roles.

The World Cup is also a factor motivating Gallagher to consider a transfer. Premier League transfer expert Graeme Bailey explained: "Like many players in similar situations, the World Cup adds extra pressure and concern. Gallagher is the type of player who performs best with regular playing time, and if he plays well, he definitely deserves a national team call-up."

He added: "This issue cannot be overlooked. I've heard that the player is very eager to reclaim a starting spot at Atletico, which is his main goal. However, many other clubs are showing strong interest in him, so he is definitely a player to watch closely in the January transfer market."