Manchester United offered Facundo Pellistri in the deal to sign Morten Hjulmand but received rejection from Sporting CP.
According to a report by The Sun, Morten Hjulmand is the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils are keen on signing a holding midfielder in the January transfer window. They offered Facundo Pellistri in the deal to land the Sporting CP midfielder, whose release clause is worth £69 million. But the Portuguese giants have turned down the offer.
Who is Morten Hjulmand?
Morten Hjulmand has been a journeyman in his young career thus far. The Dane spent his formative years in his homeland, graduating from the FC Copenhagen youth division. Since then, he has represented clubs in Austria, Italy, and Portugal, even donning the captain’s armband during his stint with Lecce.
The 24-year-old joined Sporting CP in August 2023 and hit the ground running at the Jose Alvalade Stadium. Hjulmand has turned out 24 times thus far this season, chipping in with one goal and two assists. He has featured in all but one game whenever available, showcasing his importance to Ruben Amorim’s team.
The Danish international’s progress in the last few years has not gone unnoticed. Tottenham considered securing his services when he was at US Lecce, but a move did not materialise. Hjulmand now features on the wishlist of Manchester United, who offered a part-exchange deal to sign him.
Manchester United Want Him
Manchester United’s interest in Morten Hjulmand stems from the advancing age of Casemiro. While Kobbie Mainoo is one for the future, he cannot feature week-in, week-out. In addition, Casemiro faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford, with a departure from Manchester United on the cards this year.
So, it behoves Manchester United to invest in a holding midfielder, with Amadou Onana popping up on their radar. But Hjulmand is also a viable target, with Manchester United offering Facundo Pellistri in the deal to sign him. However, Sporting CP immediately rejected the offer, pointing to his release clause of £69 million.
Manchester United cannot afford to pay £69 million to sign Morten Hjulmand in the January transfer window due to Financial Fair Play issues. In addition, Sporting CP would have resisted a mid-season sale, as they are in the Liga Portugal title race. So, a move has to wait until at least the summer transfer window.
