Breaking news from Fabrizio Romano: HERE WE GO. As per the agreed terms, Manchester United will pay forty million pounds to secure a player after completing the Ugarte deal.

After Manchester United finalizes the signing of Manuel Ugarte, they will have effectively met most of their key transfer goals for the summer.

Once Manchester United finalizes the signing of Manuel Ugarte, they will have effectively secured most of their top transfer targets for the summer. Ugarte, seen as the ideal successor to Casemiro, will boost the club’s confidence in their transfer dealings. However, there may still be time for one more significant acquisition before the window closes. According to The Standard, Manchester United has started discussions to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

Toney, who is keen on a high-profile move before the transfer deadline, is also in talks with Chelsea, his preferred destination. Despite this, Manchester United is engaging in early negotiations with Brentford, aiming to persuade Toney and potentially finalize his transfer.

The report indicates that the negotiations are still in their early stages. Brentford hopes Manchester United will make a substantial offer, possibly initiating a bidding war with Chelsea for Toney. The asking price for the striker is set at around £40 million this summer.

Previously, Brentford had been demanding up to £100 million for Toney. However, with less than a year left on his contract, they are now prepared to accept half that amount to mitigate the risk of losing him for free next summer.

Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, has excluded the 28-year-old penalty specialist from his squad for the past two Premier League matches, suggesting the club might be preparing for his departure.

Currently, Chelsea seems to be the only club in advanced negotiations, but Manchester United could change the dynamics if they intensify their interest.

While Ivan Toney would be a valuable addition to Manchester United’s squad, the club already has options at striker, including Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Despite Zirkzee’s versatility, investing £40 million in Toney, given the club’s already substantial spending this transfer window, might not be the most strategic move.

Manchester United’s Director of Football, Dan Ashworth, has thus far demonstrated a keen eye in the transfer market.

Given his track record, there is no reason to question his judgment at this stage. The coming hours will determine whether the Red Devils will make a serious push for Toney or opt to limit further spending this summer.