Manchester United are in pole position to sign Morten Hjulmand from Sporting CP, with the Dane viewed as an alternative to Elliot Anderson.
Anderson is understood to be the club’s top target for the summer transfer window, though Manchester City are pushing hard to sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder. The Citizens are frontrunners for Anderson, leaving United to explore potential alternatives.
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace have all been shortlisted as options, though more cost-effective names are also under consideration.
United want to sign at least two new midfielders in the summer and Hjulmand is back on the club’s radar.
A target under former manager Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils have continued to track the Denmark international, who is open to leaving Lisbon this summer.
A Bola are reporting that, although Hjulmand’s release clause is set at €80 million, the 26-year-old has an agreement with Sporting that the club will consider offers between €40m (£34.5m) and €50m (£43.1m). He is contracted at the Portuguese champions until 2028.
Hjulmand has won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles since signing for Sporting from Italian side Lecce, and has been included in Portugal’s Team of the Season in successive years.
He was also named Danish Footballer of the Year in 2024. The midfielder has won 27 caps for the national team, scoring his sole international goal against England at Euro 2024.
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