Olympique Lyonnais is interested in reinforcing their midfield with Manchester United's 24-year-old defensive midfielder, Manuel Ugarte, who has not started frequently this season. Lyon is targeting the Uruguayan international (33 caps, 1 goal), but Galatasaray has also shown interest in the player. The situation is not simple for Lyon, as Galatasaray would be willing to include a purchase option of approximately €25 million, a proposal that appears to be beyond Lyon's financial capacity. Lyon could instead attempt a loan deal without a purchase option, a strategy similar to the one they used for Endrick from Real Madrid. The club's management has previously been successful with unexpected signings. Ugarte joined Manchester United in August 2024 for €50.0M, and his contract is valid until 2029. According to reports from December 2025, Manchester United is seeking a fee of approximately €30 million for the player, whose current Transfermarkt market value is €30.00m.