Who is Manuel Ugarte? The ball winning Sporting star linked with Tottenham
If there is one position Tottenham feasibly don't need to strengthen, then it is central midfield. That is, unless, Antonio Conte elects to move to a 3-5-2 setup. Conte has favoured a 3-4-3 system following his appointment as Spurs boss last November, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur his favoured pairing following the latter's arrival from Juventus in January.
Spurs added to their options in the middle of the park with the capture of Yves Bissouma from Brighton, and with Oliver Skipp also on the books; Conte's side are well stocked in this area. Nevertheless, if Conte does go with a 3-5-2 more prominently, a formation he has regularly used with previous sides, then another central midfielder is key.
Whether he would immediately break into the first team is another matter, but Manuel Ugarte is one who would certainly add the necessary ball winning qualities to this Spurs side. Granted, a creative midfielder should perhaps remain the priority, but as proven in Saturday's win over Everton, Spurs can be just as effective going forward if they bulk out the midfield and allow the wing-backs the chance to get forward with greater regularity.
In this instance, a ball winning machine is vital to help protect the backline and grant the wing-backs the attacking license the stretch opponents. Of course, Conte does have options in this role, notably Bissouma and Skipp, yet four central midfielders for three spots isn't ideal for a team of Spurs' stature that will, in theory, compete on four fronts over the duration of the season.
Ugarte would swell Conte's midfield ranks and add some bite to the side. The 21-year-old has made more tackles and interceptions combined (34) than any other player in the Champions League this season, and made 12 tackles in Sporting CP's 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in matchday one of the competition last month, that a record in a game in the competition since September 2016.
Spurs witnessed first hand just how effective Ugarte can be off the ball when the two met in Lisbon last month, with the Uruguayan impressing in Sporting's 2-0 win over the north London side at the Estadio Jose Alvalade as the youngster chipped in with four interceptions and three tackles.
Now, Ugarte at present has a £52m release clause in his contract, but Sporting are looking to tie him down to a new deal, which would see that rise to around £65m, and it's understandable that they would seek to ensure he does not leave anytime soon. Sporting lost both Joao Palhinha and Matheus Nunes in the summer, the duo moving to Fulham and Wolves, respectively, so to lose another core midfielder would be a blow for the Portuguese outfit.
Yet Spurs do have the financial power to trigger the former release clause, or at least come close to matching that fee, which in turn would see Sporting lose a key player in a central area. Ugarte is indeed an effective winner of possession - he ranks third for possession won in the midfield third (40) in Liga Bwin this season - but there is more to his game than just simply winning the ball back from opponents.
When back in possession, Ugarte is able to drive the team forward from midfield, with a return of 1.6 dribbles per 90 ranking fourth of all Sporting players in Liga Bwin this term. While a success rate of 45.8% requires refining, this can be put down to a lack of experience and knowing when best to release the ball rather than trying to do too much in possession. Fans also wouldn't see Ugarte create chances aplenty when he does get forward, as noted by a return of 0.1 key passes per 90 in Portugal's top tier, but rather shift the ball onto players who can do damage in the final third.
This is noted in that he averages 58.4 passes per 90 in Liga Bwin this season, that ranking sixth for Sporting - all those ahead of him are defenders, which is hardly a surprise - while a 90.6% pass success rate is the fourth highest for the team. Spurs do need a creative player in midfield, particularly when Dejan Kulusevski isn't available, but in turn; the goal does need better protection at times.
14.5 shots conceded per game is the seventh most in the Premier League, a return higher than Southampton (12.1) and Leicester (11.9), two teams that currently occupy two of the three relegation spots, and it's unsustainable for a side that harbours hopes of landing silverware to concede so many efforts on goal. Ugarte and his tenacity would help lower that figure and boost Spurs' pursuit of ending that lengthy wait for a trophy.
In addition, Ugarte does actually have experience of playing in a 3-4-3 setup under Ruben Amorim, a system not too dissimilar to Conte's preferred formation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he clearly thrives in the role considering Sporting concede the third fewest shots per game (8.1) in Liga Bwin.
With PSG also rumoured to be interested in Ugarte, this does complicate any possible pursuit of the Uruguay international, but with compatriot Bentancur on the books at Spurs, Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici will hope this can work in their favour. Either way, if Spurs do wish to push on and really establish themselves as challengers for the Premier League crown, then Conte needs the full backing of the board to continue, and any pursuit of Ugarte would certainly aid their push to return to their former glory.
