Manchester United have unlocked the key to signing Manuel Ugarte with clever transfer ploy

When Manchester United splashed the cash on Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro earlier in the transfer window, it became clear they might have to be creative to sign a midfielder.

United have worked with a limited budget and, like all Premier League clubs, have been conscious of PSR rules, which meant spending a multi-million fee on a midfielder without offloading Casemiro - there was a lack of interest in the Brazilian - wasn't going to be financially possible.

That's without mentioning United also signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for an initial combined fee of €60million (£51m) from Bayern Munich to strengthen the defence.

With Zirkzee, Yoro, De Ligt and Mazaroui through the door, the club's attention has turned to signing a midfielder and talks are progressing with Paris Saint-Germain for Ugarte.

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A move for Ugrarte seemed to lose momentum last month due to PSG's valuation of the player, but a compromise to negotiate a loan deal for the 23-year-old is currently being discussed.

United's preference is to buy Ugarte from PSG but they have been unwilling to meet the £51.5 asking price and a loan deal could be structured with the option to make it permanent.

United were forced to be creative to sign Amrabat last summer, stumping up a hefty €10million loan fee and including an option to make the deal permanent for £25m, and it always felt likely that a breakthrough for Ugarte would require a deal to be similarly structured.

The need for some fresh legs in the centre of the pitch has been obvious since November, despite there being signs in the last few weeks that