Manchester United is attempting a fresh strategy in an attempt to close a deal for Manuel Ugarte by switching to a loan agreement that includes a purchase commitment for the midfield player from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Uruguayan has been targeted by the Red Devils all summer, and the two sides had personal terms agreed upon back in July.
The 23-year-old, who just moved to PSG last year, is eager to join Old Trafford, but negotiations between the two teams are proving challenging.
Manchester United has refused to pay PSG’s demands for the midfield player, who they claim are worth €70 million (£58.8 million).
It has appeared that there is a deal there to be done, though, with reports in the French media this week suggesting Ugarte’s prospects at PSG looked bleak, overlooked by manager Luis Enrique and left out of training matches.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the Red Devils are trying a new way of getting their man, now working on a loan deal, with an obligation to buy at the end of that short-term move.
With both clubs and the player seemingly set on getting the move made, it is likely an agreement can be reached, but it is not a certainty given the struggles they have had to strike a deal so far.
United have already been busy in the transfer market this summer, bringing in Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui so far.
Zirkzee made an instant impact, coming off the bench to score the only goal of the game in the season opener against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Mazraoui also impressed on debut in that contest, while De Ligt made a brief cameo, while Yoro is recovering from a serious foot injury.
Despite the arrival of Zirkzee and the signing of Rasmus Hojlund for an initial £64m last year, the Red Devils are still being linked with a move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
The England striker was left out of their squad on the opening weekend and is believed to be available for around £50m.