Morten Hjulmand: United forced to show their hand in midfield chase by City rivals

Manchester United’s pursuit of Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand has reached a critical juncture, with Manchester City’s sudden entry into the race forcing INEOS to accelerate their plans to reinforce Erik ten Hag’s engine room. The 24-year-old Dane, long admired by United’s recruitment staff for his rare blend of destructive ball-winning and metronomic distribution, is expected to leave the Estádio José Alvalade this summer after informing Sporting chiefs he is ready for a new challenge.

City’s interest, first reported by Portuguese outlet A Bola, has escalated from casual admiration to concrete action within the last fortnight. Officials from the Etihad have already held informal talks with Sporting’s hierarchy, aiming to exploit director Hugo Viana’s institutional knowledge of the Lisbon club—where he spent four years before moving to Manchester—to secure an early agreement once the season concludes. While no formal negotiations have opened, the Premier League champions’ willingness to trigger a deal swiftly has jolted United into recognising that hesitation could cost them another midfield target.

Juventus have monitored Hjulmand since January and retain strong interest, yet sources close to the player acknowledge that English football holds greater appeal. United had hoped to table a structured offer closer to the €40-50 million range, well below the €80 million release clause, but City’s presence threatens to drive the final fee upward or, worse, convince Sporting to sell to a domestic rival.

The development continues a pattern that has become a source of irritation at Old Trafford: City have now positioned themselves alongside United for three consecutive midfield prospects—Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Hjulmand—each time forcing United to either match their terms or walk away. Securing Hjulmand would not only represent a marquee coup in its own right but also open the possibility of pairing him with Anderson, a scenario United analysts believe could provide tactical balance and long-term stability at the base of midfield.

With Sporting open to negotiating a fee between €40 million and €50 million, the next move belongs to United. Delay, and the club risk watching another priority target slip across the city.