Liverpool have reportedly stepped up their interest in Sporting Lisbon's defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
The 22-year-old has established himself as a key first-team player for the Portuguese outfit this season, featuring 45 times across all competitions including 29 outings in the Primeira Liga.
Ugarte has also made 11 appearances across the Champions League and Europa League this term, with the Green and Whites eliminated in the quarter-finals of the latter competition last month.
The Uruguay international is currently enjoying his second season with Sporting Lisbon since leaving Famalicao in 2021, and he still has over three years remaining on his contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
However, speculation surrounding the midfielder's future has grown in recent months, with a number of top European clubs believed to be keeping tabs on his progress.
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A recent report claims that Liverpool have opened talks with Sporting over a deal to sign Ugarte, while another states that Chelsea are prepared to hijack the Reds' pursuit of the midfielder.
Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest, but according to Portuguese news outlet Record, via the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool have stepped up their interest in Ugarte and are preparing to make an opening offer ahead of the summer transfer window.
The report adds that Liverpool's interest in the youngster is 'concrete' but their valuation of the midfielder – who possesses a €60m (£52.2m) release clause in his contract – remains unknown.
Ugarte's agent Jorge Chijane recently revealed that the eight-cap Uruguay international is "almost certain" to leave Sporting this summer and claims he will use super-agent Jorge Mendes to help facilitate a transfer.
Speaking to O Jogo, Chijane said: "It's almost certain that he won't stay, it's sure he'll leave. I'll be in Lisbon soon. I trust Jorge Mendes, who is the best businessman in the world.
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"In fact, when I told him about Ugarte for the first time, he said to me: 'Your eyes are my eyes'. Liverpool? There is a lot of talk, but it is not the only one club, there are others.
"There is much talk, but I am still not sure about the club. There are many hypotheses on the table. I believe that in 15 days the situation will be resolved."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is expected to prioritise the signing of a least one new central midfielder this summer, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all out of contract at the end of the season.
Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham had been Liverpool's top target, but the Reds have since pulled out of the race for his signature due to the finances involved in a proposed big-money deal.
Ugarte has since emerged as a more realistic target that complies with their transfer budget, while the likes of Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch and Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister have also been linked with a move to Anfield.
Oliver Thomas
