{"id":6252,"date":"2025-08-09T13:03:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T11:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/?p=6252"},"modified":"2025-08-09T13:03:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T11:03:51","slug":"douglas-luiz-saga-manchester-united-eyes-midfielder-as-valuation-dispute-persists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/douglas-luiz-saga-manchester-united-eyes-midfielder-as-valuation-dispute-persists\/","title":{"rendered":"Douglas Luiz Saga: Manchester United Eyes Midfielder as Valuation Dispute Persists"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

8<\/i><\/p>\n

Last season, Manchester United struggled significantly on the field, and while efforts have been made to resolve their goal-scoring issues, there remains much to improve in other areas.<\/p>\n

Andre Onana has left some wondering about his role as the primary goalkeeper, while in midfield, Ruben Amorim continues his search for that ideal player to enhance his 3-4-2-1 formation.<\/p>\n

Current options<\/h3>\n

The squad possesses several athletes capable of functioning in a midfield double pivot; however, none of them exhibit the dynamism that the head coach seeks.<\/p>\n

Casemiro is undeniably in the latter stages of his career and was reported to be on his way out earlier this summer, while Manuel Ugarte has had inconsistent performances since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain last year.<\/p>\n

Ugarte had a solid game next to Kobbie Mainoo against West Ham United, but then struggled significantly in the subsequent match against Everton.<\/p>\n

Midfield merry-go-round<\/h3>\n

Manchester United has been frequently associated with Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, yet reports suggest that the Danish player prefers a transfer to Juventus instead of reuniting with Amorim at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, the Italian club must offload players before they can pursue new signings, with Douglas Luiz, another target for United, being top of their disposal list.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian is currently absent from Igor Tudor\u2019s training camp and has no place in the manager\u2019s future plans, generating interest from several Premier League teams.<\/p>\n

Corriere dello Sport indicates that Nottingham Forest is in the \u201clead position\u201d for Luiz and has already \u201cgained the player’s favor\u201d, putting them ahead of Everton, who are also pursuing the transfer.<\/p>\n

Gap in valuation<\/h3>\n

However, Manchester United still has a chance to act, given that Forest is not approaching Juventus\u2019 \u20ac40m asking price for the 27-year-old.<\/p>\n

This asking price seems steep for a player clearly on the market, yet it’s the figure Juventus needs to prevent a capital loss after acquiring the Brazilian from Aston Villa for around \u20ac50m last year.<\/p>\n

Forest\u2019s valuation sits between \u20ac30m and \u20ac35m, which does not satisfy Juventus. In an effort to facilitate Luiz’s departure and recover some funds, the Turin club may consider a loan arrangement with a forced option to buy.<\/p>\n

If United were to pursue Luiz, they would unintentionally be facilitating Juventus in acquiring Hjulmand, thus the decision will not be taken lightly by those in charge at Old Trafford. Hjulmand and Luiz, alongside Ederson from Atalanta, form an impressive trio on their midfield wishlist \u2013 it remains uncertain whether United can successfully finalize any deals for them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n