Noisy neighbours provide United with perfect motivation to intensify chase for £70m pass master – report

If Manchester United truly believe Morten Hjulmand is the perfect fit for their midfield, they must act, and act now. INEOS have been weighing options to strengthen United’s engine room, and Hjulmand has consistently been among those midfielders linked. A brilliant deep-lying playmaker, Hjulmand stands out for his ability to break up play and, moreover, his exceptional capacity to dictate tempo with precise passing. At his best, he offers exactly the kind of control that top sides crave. With that in mind, this summer he is expected to leave the Estadio Jose Alvalade as he looks to take the next step in his career. For some time, Juventus have been viewed as a likely destination if United fail to move. City also want Hjulmand Now, however, Manchester City have entered the race. A Bola report: “Manchester City’s interest in Morten Hjulmand has gained new momentum in recent weeks, with the English giants taking concrete steps to secure the Sporting midfielder in the next transfer. “City have already made informal contact with Sporting’s management with a clear objective: to get ahead of the strong competition, which includes, among others, Juventus and Manchester United, and secure the signing of the Dane immediately after the end of the current season.” Of which, according to the Portuguese outlet, City are relying on Sporting director Hugo Viana’s connections and knowledge (he was at Sporting CP before moving to the Etihad) to tilt the contest in their favour. However, despite claims of an advantage, no direct negotiations are underway between Sporting and City. As a result, that leaves United with a genuine chance, provided they ramp up their efforts. How much for Hjulmand Interestingly, A Bola also reveal: “Despite being protected by an €80 million release clause, Sporting CP’s management is open to negotiating for values between €40 million and €50 million.” Moreover, City’s pursuit of United’s midfield targets has become a frustrating theme. Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and now Hjulmand, time and again, City appear intent on muscling in. For United, winning this race will be a big transfer coup. Crucially, the prospect of Hjulmand alongside Anderson as a midfield pairing could provide the team with strength and stability for years to come. Featured image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.