INEOS actively pursuing ‘fantastic captain’ who had already Man Utd flop

Manchester United remain interested in Sporting Club captain Morten Hjulmand despite Ruben Amorim’s departure.The 26-year-old is a Danish international who rose to prominence during his time at Lecce, earning himself a €20 million move to Lisbon in the summer of 2023.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYDuring Amorim’s tumultuous 14-month reign at Man Utd, the club was heavily linked with several Sporting players who shone under the 41-year-old’s tutelage, and chief among them was Hjulmand, whose name was constantly in the news feed.Man United eyeing a move for Morten HjulmandDespite the recurring links, the Kastrup native remained at Sporting, while United never recruited a midfielder with Amorim in charge.Nevertheless, MUFC’s midfield overhaul was only delayed until the summer of 2026, when the club is expected to sign at least two new players in this department.Michael Carrick is currently operating with only three out-and-out midfielders, and only Kobbie Mainoo is certain to stay beyond the current campaign, as Casemiro had already announced his departure, while Manuel Ugarte could follow suit after failing to impress in his two campaigns at Old Trafford.Curiously, when the Uruguayan international left Sporting to join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, Hjulmand was brought in as his direct replacement in Lisbon.According to CaughtOffside, the Dane could once again fill in for Ugarte, as Man Utd continue to follow him.Why Hjulmand remains an interesting profile for Man UtdDuring his time under Amorim, Hjulmand not only became a regular feature but was also handed the captaincy after one season. The former Man Utd manager hailed him as a ‘fantastic player and captain’.But after three years in the Portuguese capital, the midfielder is expected to bow out at the end of the season. Moreover, with his contract expiring in June 2028, Sporting could be enticed to cash in on his services while his market value is at its peak.The midfielder’s contract contains a €80 million release clause, but it is unlikely to be activated by any suitor, as his market value is estimated in the range of €40m-€50m. Attribute Percentile Goals 45% Defensive contribution 42% Chances created 71% Aerial duels won 67% Touches 97% Shot attempts 44% (Hjulmand’s stats in 25/26 via FotMob)CaughtOffside insists that Hjulmand’s main admirers are in the Premier League, particularly Man Utd and Liverpool, who are actively pursuing new midfielders.While the source doesn’t mention Manchester City, a move to the Etihad cannot be ruled out, as the club’s sporting director, Hugo Viana, was behind the Dane’s move to Sporting.The report adds that Man Utd consider Hjulmand the right profile to inherit Casemiro’s No.6 role, as he combines defensive solidity with distribution skills, making him a complete holding midfielder in the modern sense of the word.The Red Devils have also been considering several Premier League stars for the role, especially Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Sandro Tonali. However, Hjulmand is a significantly more affordable solution, given that others could each cost a transfer fee in the region of £100 million.