Chelsea has reached a six-year agreement and will "confirm a big-money transfer next week."
Chelsea is moving quickly in the transfer market in an effort to recover from their disastrous Premier League season.
When the transfer market opens next month, Chelsea may be about to execute their first significant acquisition of the upcoming campaign. Manuel Ugarte, a defensive midfielder for Sporting Lisbon, is allegedly close to signing a six-year contract with the Blues.
The Uruguayan was expected to join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, but Chelsea's late swoop seems to have changed the situation in their favor. Both parties are willing to match the £52 million release clause in Ugarte's contract.
According to Uruguayan transfer source Franco Fernandez, Chelsea are the front-runners to sign him, and negotiations might begin as soon as next week. Manuel Ugarte was on the bench [against Vizela], and he did not see any playing time while awaiting a decision on his future during the transfer window, the tweet read. Next week, his arrival at Chelsea might be announced.
According to reports, Liverpool is still interested in the player and is "ready" to meet Ugarte's clause as well. After the Reds allegedly approached the 22-year-old in the middle of the season when they had 'forbidden' him from speaking to other clubs, the Portuguese team threatened the Reds with UEFA fines.
Teams speaking to players without the parent club's consent is against UEFA and FIFA rules, and according to the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manh, Sporting has warned legal action if Liverpool are found to be in violation.
Jorge Chijane, Ugarte's agent, is convinced that his client will vacate the José Alvalade Stadium this coming summer. But while discussing Ugarte's future earlier this month, I wasn't certain of the most likely destination.
