Uniteds pursuit of 26-yo midfield monster rocked with Atletico Madrid now closing in on deal – report

Manchester United have reportedly secured the services of Atalanta midfielder Ederson as they look to upgrade their midfield this summer. The Red Devils’ search for Casemiro’s ideal replacement has seen them linked with several names, and they have found a suitable candidate in Serie A. According to a recent report relayed by The Peoples Person, the English giants have already reached full agreement with their Italian counterparts for the 26 year old. Ederson, though, is unlikely to be the only midfielder through the door this summer. While Casemiro is set to leave as a free agent, Manuel Ugarte could also move on to greener pastures this summer. Unlike the Brazilian, who was outstanding in his final season at Old Trafford, the Uruguayan never really warmed up to life in M16. Ugarte’s possible departure, as such, means that INEOS have to further invest in the middle of the park, and previous reports have named Sporting’s Morten Hjulmand as an option for the job. United’s long-term target United have had their eyes on Hjulmand since the days of former head coach Ruben Amorim. The duo enjoyed great success together at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, and the Red Devils were keen to rekindle their partnership at the Theatre of Dreams. While Amorim lost his job in January, INEOS have retained their interest in Hjulmand, who remains a key member of Sporting’s starting XI. This season, the Danish midfielder has registered three goals and six assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, all but one of which have been starts. Morten Hjulmand Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Liga Portugal2726348-2,325′ UEFA Champions League1010–5-910′ Taça de Portugal66-22-621′ Allianz Cup11—-90′ Portuguese Supercup11–1-90′ Total45443616-4,036′ Source: Transfermarkt. Hjulmand is a modern No. 6 who excels at controlling the tempo of the game from deep and is adept at breaking up opposition play and shielding the backline. While his skill set has convinced the Old Trafford hierarchy, they are not the only party in the race. Previous reports suggest that Arsenal are hot on the Dane’s heels, while Real Madrid have also been mentioned as the player’s suitors. However, it now appears that a new club has entered the fray and is threatening to ruin United’s plans. Atletico Madrid reach Hjulmand agreement According to Antenna1 via Mundo Deportivo, Atletico Madrid have agreed personal terms with Hjulmand ahead of a move this summer. Los Rojiblancos are now preparing to strike a deal with Sporting, with the report adding that an agreement is likely for €40 million. The report continues by stating that the LaLiga giants have agreed to triple the player’s wages to beat the competition in the race for his signature. The Dane currently earns around €2 million with the Portuguese club, so he is more than happy with the arrangement. The report also insists that should Jose Mourinho take charge at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, he will ask Real Madrid to secure Hjulmand’s signature. Sport Witness add that Atletico Madrid were ready to offer €25 million for the Dane in January, but the Portuguese club turned them down. An exit, however, appears to be more likely this summer. Final Thoughts Hjulmand’s asking price makes him a superb option for United, even though his lack of Premier League experience does raise a concern. The Red Devils are already adding one midfielder from abroad, so perhaps they would be better advised to invest in a Premier League-proven candidate for the position next. Featured image Gualter Fatia 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.