Manchester United have been linked with a move to sign Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand to bolster Erik ten Hag’s engine room.
We aren’t expecting too much movement from United during this January transfer window.
Financial Fair Play will hamper United and that means any major arrivals will surely only materialise at the end of the season.
We have still seen some interesting rumours of late though with reports last week indicating that United had offered cash plus Facundo Pellistri for Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand.
Sporting allegedly weren’t interested and were demanding for United to pay the £69million release clause in Hjulmand’s contract.
We can’t see United paying that kind of money any time soon, but let’s dig into Hjulmand’s career to date…
Morten Hjulmand, the story so far
Hjulmand hails from Kastrup, a suburb of the Danish capital Copenhagen, and he started his career in the FC Copenhagen youth ranks.
Copenhagen decided to offload the midfielder as an 18-year-old, allowing him to move to Austria with Admira Wacker in 2018.
That’s very similar to how Copenhagen flogged now-United striker Rasmus Hojlund to another Austrian club in Sturm Graz.
Hjulmand’s rise hasn’t been quite so meteoric, but he was spotted by Lecce and moved to Italy’s second tier back in January 2021.
Hjulmand played a vital role in helping Lecce win promotion to Serie A in 2022 and the continued to shine in Italy’s top flight last season.
The 24-year-old – a combative and hard-working defensive midfielder – was snapped up by Sporting over the summer in a deal worth around €18million (£15.5million) plus €3million (£2.5million) in adding, taking the total deal to around £18million.
Morten Hjulmand player profile
- Age: 24
- Date of birth: 25/06/1999
- Position: Midfielder
- Club: Sporting CP
- Former clubs: Copenhagen, Admira Wacker, Lecce
- Nationality: Danish
- Contract: Until June 2028
Morten Hjulmand, what they say
“He’s everything we thought he would be, but he’s going to improve a lot physically and he has to get to know his teammates well. The way he always plays the ball forward helps the team and that is very important. He is very smart at reading the spaces and understanding when to press or when to join the defensive line. He is a leader, and he was made captain in Italy at the age of 24. You don’t get to do that if you are not a leader,” – Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.
“He is still young but he is already a man with important professional and human values. Whoever has the chance to take him away, if the director lets him go, will make a great investment because he has incredible room for improvement, which I believe only he can know. I was lucky enough to coach him, we spoke to him too recently and I told him to stay humble and move forward as strong as he knows how to do,” – Former Lecce boss Marco Baroni.
“Hjulmand will also make the difference in Serie A. The paradox is that too little is said about such a talented player . We need more willingness to go to the fields to watch the matches. He is born in 1999, he is 22 years old and is destined to have a great career. I don’t mind the Tonali or young people of this level, but he deserves such stages, he has nothing to envy,” – Lecce sporting director Stefano Trinchera.
Morten Hjulmand to Manchester United analysis
Hjulmand keeps taking gradual steps forward in his career and has been impressing throughout.
The Dane captained Lecce last season and has earned a reputation as something of a leader at multiple clubs now.
That is the kind of presence United need in midfield and Hjulmand might not be a big name, but he can be a solid midfielder for years to come.
£69million is steep, and we wouldn’t encourage paying that kind of money, but Hjulmand’s relentless style in midfield would be welcomed at Old Trafford.
Hjulmand is a name to keep close tabs on in 2024, as we can imagine him making another big move- whether it’s to United or elsewhere.
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