United to face stiff competition from bitter rivals in race to sign €80m midfield warrior in January – report

Ruben Amorim’s presence at Manchester United has seen several Sporting players linked with moves to Old Trafford recently. The Portuguese head coach arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in November last year, following an impressive stint with the Primeira Liga club. Amorim was in charge of 231 games at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, registering 164 victories and winning the league twice. The Portuguese, however, has endured a difficult spell with the Red Devils, managing just 20 wins in 51 games so far. Despite a summer of significant attacking reinforcements, one area that is still troubling his team is the midfield. Morten Hjulmand has emerged as an option A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that United are considering a move for Morten Hjulmand to strengthen their midfield. The Dane was brought to Sporting by Amorim in 2023, and the Premier League giants are now planning a reunion at Old Trafford at the turn of the year. Hjulmand has been outstanding for the Portuguese club, registering 109 appearances and winning the league twice. He has all the attributes to be a fine addition to Amorim’s squad, but it now appears that the Red Devils will face competition from their bitter rivals in the race for his signature. Interest from City According to Record, Manchester City are also considering a move for Hjulmand at the turn of the year. Sporting’s former director of football, Hugo Viana, took charge at the Etihad this summer and now wants the Dane to follow him. However, the report adds that the Portuguese club are hoping that an agreement struck with the player last year will help them keep him at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. According to the arrangement, Hjulmand will be entitled to a cash bonus if he stays at the club this season. Meanwhile, Sporting will only sell him if his €80 million release clause is triggered. Recent reports suggest that United are optimistic about securing the 26 year old’s signature for €50m in January. However, City’s entry in the race will certainly cause a few headaches at the Theatre of Dreams. 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 Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.