Galatasaray have stepped up their pursuit of Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, with reports from Turkey confirming the player has given the green light for a potential move to Istanbul.

The Uruguay international has struggled to justify his £42m price tag since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, and United are now looking to offload him as part of a major midfield rebuild this summer.

This marks the third consecutive transfer window where INEOS are reshaping a different area of the squad. After strengthening the defence last summer and the attack in January, the focus has now shifted entirely to the engine room.

Casemiro's departure at the end of the season, when his contract expires, leaves a massive void. Both parties decided against triggering a one-year extension, meaning United are planning to sign two midfielders to properly replace the Brazilian veteran.

Elliot Anderson is the primary target, while Premier League-proven options like Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, and Adam Wharton are also being monitored. However, United's ability to fund these moves hinges on selling Ugarte first, as his remaining book value means anything less than £26m would register as a negative PSR hit.

Galatasaray first showed interest in Ugarte during the January window, but United were reluctant to weaken their squad mid-season. Now, with the Süper Lig champions confirmed as winners for the fourth consecutive season, they have reopened talks with renewed determination.

Turkish outlet Fotomac reports that club-to-club discussions have already begun, with a potential loan deal also on the table. Ugarte is understood to be open to the move, having given his approval to join the Istanbul giants.

For United, this represents a chance to cut their losses on a signing that simply hasn't worked out. For Ugarte, a fresh start in Turkey could be exactly what his career needs after a difficult spell in Manchester.