Man City are stepping up their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, according to reports in Portugal.
A BOLA report that the Cityzens are hoping to beat the likes of Manchester United and Juventus to the Denmark international’s situation.
To that end, they have already made some “concrete steps” in recent weeks to discover the financial conditions required for the transfer to go ahead.
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It is believed that Hjulmand would cost between €40m (£35m) and €50m (£44m), which is a pretty sizeable discount on his €80m (£70m) release clause.
Man City see him as a potential Rodri replacement
Hjulmand is a holding midfield player by trade, and as captain, he has led Sporting to two Liga Portugal titles.
A BOLA claim Hjulmand is seen as a potential successor for Rodri, who is considering whether to leave Etihad this summer. Real Madrid are seen as his most likely destination.
It is up for debate whether the Dane possesses the same quality as the former Ballon d’Or winner, but he could join City in order to provide competition for Nico Gonzalez.
Viana could play a key role in signing Hjulmand
Director of Football Hugo Viana was Sporting’s head of recruitment when the midfielder was signed from Lecce in 2023, so he knows the player well.
In addition, the Portuguese still has a very good relationship with the reigning Liga Portugal champions, so negotiations between the two clubs should run relatively smoothly.
No direct talks have taken place between City and Sporting up until now, but the fact that Pep Guardiola’s side have made enquiries does suggest there is genuine interest. It is a transfer story to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks and months.
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