Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are watching a situation that now looks increasingly defined in Lisbon.
Sporting planning succession
According to A Bola, Sporting have already moved into the market to find a successor for Morten Hjulmand. The Portuguese newspaper states that the captain’s departure in the summer is viewed internally as inevitable.
This is not linked to any recent squad management decision, or to United and Tottenham’s interest. Instead, the club’s hierarchy accept that keeping the 26-year-old beyond this season will be extremely difficult. As a result, recruitment work has begun.
Sporting are preparing for a broader midfield reshuffle. Hidemasa Morita is expected to leave at the end of his contract. That leaves two central midfield exits on the horizon. The club therefore anticipate significant investment in replacements.
Framework already agreed
This aligns with reporting from Record last week. That outlet revealed that Hjulmand and Sporting president Frederico Varandas reached an internal agreement earlier this season.
Under that understanding, the midfielder committed to staying for the 2025-26 campaign despite strong interest from Europe’s top leagues. In exchange, Sporting accepted he would have freedom to choose his next move in the summer.
The club plan to open negotiations from July. They will listen to offers starting at €40m (around £34m), with bonuses on top. That figure sits below his €80m release clause. However, Sporting consider it a realistic valuation based on his performances, leadership role and age.
Both sides also want to avoid any public transfer saga, such as they had with Gyökeres last summer. The aim is to prevent agent-driven pressure and eliminate drama before the window opens.
Manchester United and Tottenham keen
Atlético Madrid are described in Portugal as a leading suitor. However, previous reports indicated that sporting director Mateu Alemany denied that any formal bid had been submitted.
Meanwhile, the Premier League angle remains strong. Manchester United and Tottenham both tracked Hjulmand closely during the last summer window. Their interest resurfaced during the second half of 2025.
Now, with Sporting actively preparing for life after their captain and a €40m framework already defined, English clubs may see confirmation that movement is coming.
The market is no longer speculative. The succession plan has started, and that often signals that a sale is simply a matter of timing.
