According to Prominent Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United is nearing a transfer move as they are signing a monster who can easily surpass Manchester United legend Roy Keane.

Although Manchester United fans may be feeling a bit deflated after Saturday’s loss, the ongoing transfer window offers some excitement.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team have brought in several skilled players to bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad, including Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, and Noussair Mazraoui.

However, while that might suffice for most clubs, the Red Devils appear ready to add another potential star, someone who could be the club’s new Roy Keane.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are now on the verge of signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

The Italian journalist has disclosed that if Scott McTominay’s move to Napoli proceeds as expected, Manchester United will finalize the permanent signing of the Uruguayan star.

While Romano hasn’t specified a potential fee, summer reports have consistently suggested that the three-time European Champions would need to pay £51 million for the 23-year-old, who earns £101k per week.

It’s not an inexpensive transfer, but integrating this hard-hitting international into Ten Hag’s midfield could make the team much more formidable for opponents. The player might even become the Dutch manager’s version of Roy Keane.

Why Ugarte could be Ten Hag’s Keane
When you think of Roy Keane, what are the first things that usually come to mind?

For most fans, the first image that likely comes to mind is that of a classic “hardman” — a midfielder who could intimidate opponents before the match even began and then make a forceful tackle early on to send a clear message.

However, while this does capture an aspect of the Irishman’s game, it overlooks his technical skills. After all, thriving at Old Trafford requires more than just being good at crunching tackles.

One of the traits Ugarte shares with the former United legend is his toughness, as he’s also unafraid to make a tackle, much like the Cork-born icon. In fact, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, as well as the Champions League and Europa League, the former Sporting CP star ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for tackles and dribblers tackled, and in the top 2% for interceptions, ball recoveries, and tackles won per 90 minutes.

However, much like the player he aspires to emulate, Ugarte is also highly skilled with the ball at his feet. He ranks in the top 1% for medium pass completion percentage, the top 2% for long pass completion percentage, and the top 4% for overall pass completion percentage among midfielders. Additionally, the 23-year-old “defensive monster,” as Statman Dave called him, shares one more trait with the midfield legend: a tendency to pick up yellow cards.

In fact, Ugarte has received 47 yellow cards in 200 appearances so far, averaging one every 4.25 games. In comparison, the former Nottingham Forest player earned 99 yellow cards in 612 appearances, or one every 6.18 games. While there will never be another Keane, signing Ugarte could be a strong step towards finding the next best thing for Ten Hag’s team.