INEOS have already signed a "destroyer" who can end Ugarte's Man Utd career

Ruben Amorim will have some interesting selection choices ahead of Manchester United’s post-Christmas fixtures.

The Red Devils lost their last game before Christmas Day, a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa. That game saw Bruno Fernandes pick up a hamstring injury, which will rule him out of the Boxing Day game against Newcastle.

United are certainly short on numbers in the middle of the park. Fernandes is not the only midfielder sidelined, with question marks over Kobbie Mainoo’s availability against the Magpies. It seems a guarantee that Casemiro will start, with the Brazilian set to return from suspension.

Who his partner will be is unclear at this stage, although there is no guarantee it will be Manuel Ugarte.

Why Ugarte is struggling at Man Utd

Uruguay international Ugarte has far from impressed at Old Trafford since his £50m move from Paris Saint-Germain. His last seven starts in the Premier League have all ended in defeat for United, including Sunday’s trip to Villa Park.

That was a showing that journalist Samuel Luckhurst described as “scandalous,” harsh words, maybe, but it was a poor performance.

He hasn’t ever been able to nail down a spot in the side, playing 57 times in total, but only averaging 36 full 90-minute games. In that time, the midfielder has chipped in with two goals and six assists.

It is hard to see what Ugarte brings to the United side in possession. That is certainly one of the weakest areas of his game, and something Amorim certainly needs in his pivot to have better central progression.

Indeed, his numbers from the Premier League last season show those limitations. For example, he averaged 3.08 progressive passes and 0.81 progressive carries per 90 minutes, placing him in the lowest 18th and 23rd percentiles for midfielders.

It does not seem like Ugarte is at the level required for this United side, and there could be a young player ready to step into his position in the coming years.

Man United’s in-house Ugarte replacement

There are a few options in the Red Devils academy who could replace the United number 25 in the long term. One of those, Jack Fletcher, made his first-team debut last weekend, and Sekou Kone is another player who could break through.

However, another option for Amorim in the long term could be 17-year-old Cristian Orozco. The young midfielder will sign for United next summer for a reported £740k, joining from Colombian outfit Fortaleza.

This signing is certainly an investment for the future for United. The Colombian U17 international is yet to make his first-team debut, but has already garnered a big reputation and become known as something of a “destroyer” in midfield, as one analyst described him.

Another person who has been left impressed by Orozco’s short career so far is football scout Ben Mattinson. He described the youngster as “tidy on the ball” and “composed under pressure.”

Given Ugarte’s limitations in possession, this is undoubtedly a positive thing. If, indeed, the teenager becomes his replacement in the future, it is good to know he has the foundations of a strong midfielder in possession.

Indeed, you get that impression when looking at some of his numbers from tournament football with Colombia U17s. At the U17 CONMEBOL Championship, he completed an average of 87.4% of his passes per 90 minutes, and averaged 0.8 dribbles at the U17 World Cup.

Of course, there is some time yet before the young midfielder moves to Old Trafford. However, it certainly seems like he has all the tools to make it to the top. United have struggled for depth in midfield, but he certainly has potential.

Whatever Ugarte’s future may be, Orozco might be the player to displace him from the squad and eventually end his United career.

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