Manchester United are expected to accelerate their pursuit of midfield target Morten Hjulmand ahead of their domestic rivals.
Morten Hjulmand is a name high on the shortlists of top Premier League teams heading into the summer window. The Danish star has an €80 million release clause, but clubs are expected to negotiate terms with Sporting CP, as Fichajes states Manchester United are ready to accelerate their pursuit ahead of Liverpool or Manchester City.
Morten Hjulmand being mentioned as a target for Premier League teams is nothing new, with the Dane seeing links for a couple of seasons now. He was previously linked with Manchester United before and after former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim’s arrival there, and now, the Red Devils are once again in the mix.
Hjulmand is eager to take up a new challenge, possibly in the Premier League, where a host of teams are showing interest. Manchester United are thought to be ahead of Manchester City in the race, with the latter linked owing to the presence of former Sporting CP director Hugo Viana.
Manchester City could look to add to their midfield, but they may not be able to guarantee a key spot for the Dane. Manchester United, on the other hand, are losing Casemiro in the summer and need to replace the Brazilian with a top-quality player, with Hjulmand ticking a lot of boxes in that regard.
Liverpool are also mentioned as a suitor, with the club already on the lookout for a defensive midfielder that would suit their style of play. Overall, Hjulmand will have plenty of suitors, with his €80 million release clause likely the sticking point in any deal, although the interested parties are expected to negotiate with Sporting CP to bring that asking price down.
Manchester United to accelerate Morten Hjulmand pursuit?
Key to bringing Hjulmand in would be negotiating a swift deal with Sporting CP, or risk getting dragged into a bidding war, which would enable the Portuguese giants to seek closer to his €80 million release clause. Manchester United are certainly keen on wrapping up a deal early, as they are ready to accelerate their pursuit of the Danish midfielder.
Manchester United are also looking at Pape Gueye as an option should they consider other names, although they might pursue targets in equal measure. For now, they are in the mix for the Sporting CP midfielder, and only time will tell whether they can sign him for a price below his release clause.