Manchester United’s midfield plans for the summer are increasingly pointing towards Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand. The Danish international is now seen in Portugal as a leading candidate for a move to Old Trafford.
Manchester City had appeared to move into the strongest position for Morten Hjulmand over recent weeks.
City were said to have made contact through Hugo Viana. Sporting were already preparing for a departure. Also, the expectation in Lisbon increasingly became that the Danish midfielder would leave this summer.
Now, however, Manchester United are pushing back hard into the picture.
The two Manchester clubs are increasingly being placed side by side in the battle for Hjulmand, and the latest reports from Portugal suggest the balance may even have shifted again.
Informal agreement already in place
The Premier League side have been linked with the midfielder for months. Now, Portuguese newspaper A Bola are going a step further.
According to the report, Manchester United are currently in “pole position” for the midfielder’s signature ahead of the summer window.
The most significant detail from Portugal is the claim that Hjulmand already has an informal agreement with Sporting regarding a summer exit.
A Bola state the Lisbon club are prepared to sit down for negotiations if offers arrive in the region of €40m to €50m (£34m to £43m).
That is a major drop from the midfielder’s official €80m (£69m) release clause and reinforces the idea that Sporting are already preparing for the next phase.
Internally, the expectation increasingly appears to be that this will be Hjulmand’s final season in Lisbon.
The report also suggests there is growing belief that the Danish international’s appearance in the Portuguese Cup final against Torreense on May 24 could be his final match for the club.
Recovery boost before likely farewell
Hjulmand’s immediate focus remains on returning fully fit.
The Sporting captain suffered an ankle injury after a challenge involving Gabri Veiga during the Portuguese Cup semi-final against Porto. At one stage, there were fears he might not play again this season.
However, according to A Bola, the midfielder is recovering well. There is now strong optimism that he will be available for the Jamor final later this month.
That would allow him a final appearance in a Sporting shirt before what is increasingly viewed as an inevitable summer departure.
Why Manchester United make sense
Manchester United’s strong position in the race is not difficult to understand. The club have been looking for greater control and consistency in midfield. And with a key player like Casemiro certain to leave in the summer, Hjulmand fits that profile closely.
He offers balance, leadership and tactical discipline – qualities Manchester United have lacked at times in recent years.
So now the Red Devils are increasingly viewed in Portugal as the favourites. Sporting are open to negotiations within a defined price range. And there is already said to be an understanding between player and club regarding a summer departure.
At €40m, or a little over, Hjulmand could be Manchester United’s second midfield signing.
Nothing is formally advanced yet. Still, the pieces are beginning to line up.
