Manchester United keen on signing Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand
According to a report from Football Transfers, Manchester United have lined up a move for Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand as an alternative to top target Manuel Ugarte.
The Red Devils have agreed personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain enforcer Manuel Ugarte, who is keen on a move to Old Trafford. The 23-year-old arrived at Paris Saint-Germain from Sporting CP last summer, but after a bright start to life in France, his form faded and he dropped down the midfield pecking order under coach Luis Enrique.
With PSG making Benfica starlet Joao Neves a top midfield target, Ugarte is expected to enjoy less game time in the upcoming season. As a result, the Uruguay international is open to joining Erik ten Hag’s forces. However, there seems to be a gap in terms of valuation with Manchester Utd currently reluctant to meet PSG’s €70m asking price for Ugarte.
The aforementioned report adds Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand is now being considered by the 20-time English champions. While he is understood to be ‘less aggressive’ than Ugarte, the Man United chiefs admire the Dane’s positional awareness, discipline and experience working in a possession-based side under Ruben Amorim at Sporting.
Interestingly, Hjulmand arrived as a replacement for Ugarte at Sporting from Italian side Lecce last summer and hit the ground running in Portugal. The defensive midfielder quickly became a key cog in Amorim’s side, starting 28 of his 30 league appearances as Sporting won the league title.
The Denmark international went on to appear in 49 games across all competitions in his debut campaign at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, registering four goals and as many assists. The 25-year-old is coming off the back of a fine Euro 2024 where he scored a stunning goal to earn his nation a draw with England in the group stages.
However, it is strange that Man United view Hjulmand as an alternative to Ugarte given their unwillingness to spend €70m on the PSG midfielder as an €80m release clause protects the Sporting man.
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As Ugarte is our summer’s top midfield target and valued at €70m, it would make no sense for INEOS to view Hjulmand as the Uruguayan’s alternative and agree to pay his release clause. The co-owners eyeing the Dane as a potential target perhaps suggest we could get him at a discounted price, regardless of the defensive midfielder enjoying a strong season in Portugal and Euros.
It remains to be seen what plans INEOS have if PSG doesn’t budge on Ugarte’s asking price. If Hjulmand indeed is our fallback plan, it won’t be a bad move either.
