Manchester City’s midfield planning is picking up pace ahead of the summer window, and Morten Hjulmand is still right in the middle of it.
The Sporting CP captain has been on City’s radar for a few weeks now. As covered previously, the club have already started looking closely at him as part of their midfield reshaping, and that interest has not gone away.
City are assessing options to strengthen the centre of the pitch, especially with some uncertainty around Rodri and the need to keep control and balance in their system.
Sporting, as usual, are right in that recruitment pathway.
Manchester City know the Lisbon club very well. And this time, they also have a big internal advantage. Hugo Viana, now part of the Premier League side’s structure, was the one who signed Hjulmand from Lecce.
That connection brings familiarity, trust and a clearer idea of what it would take to get a deal done. As mentioned in earlier reports, that relationship is seen as one of City’s key advantages in this race.
With that in mind, things are starting to move.
Contact made, positioning ongoing
Manchester City have already made informal contact regarding Morten Hjulmand as they try to get ahead of the competition, as reported by A BOLA.
The plan is to move early, gather information and be ready when the market opens. Clubs like Manchester United and Juventus are also in the picture, but City are trying to stay one step ahead.
Sporting know what’s coming. As previously outlined, they have already started preparing for the midfielder’s departure, which is now widely seen as likely at the end of the season.
Hjulmand has a release clause of €80m (£69m), but, as reported elsewhere and reinforced again in Portugal, the real price is expected to land somewhere between €40m and €50m (£34m to £43m).
On display in England
The latest development adds another layer. Morten Hjulmand was effectively on show in England this week during Sporting’s Champions League clash against Arsenal. The game ended 0-0, with Arsenal going through after winning the first leg in Lisbon.
That match gave English clubs a proper look at him in a high-level setting, something that has been building over recent weeks as interest grows.
More interestingly, his agent Ivan Marko Benes was there, according to the same A BOLA report.
As we’ve seen in previous updates, the agent has been present at key moments around the player, and this was another one.
After the game, the two (Benes and Hjulmand) were seen talking, which only adds to the feeling that things are starting to move behind the scenes as the summer approaches, given the setting and the exposure.
Profile, numbers and fit
Morten Hjulmand’s appeal is all about consistency and control. During the 2025/26 season, he has made around 41 appearances, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists.
Also, FootyStats data shows he averages around 2.8 tackles and 2.0 interceptions per 90 minutes. Plus roughly 6.6 ball recoveries per match.
On the ball, he keeps things ticking. He averages over 60 passes per game with accuracy above 85%, and around 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes.
He’s not flashy, but he brings structure, balance and leadership – exactly the kind of profile City value.
What happens next
The situation is clearly building. Manchester City have made contact through Hugo Viana, who remains a key factor. Sporting are already planning for life after him. And his agent continues to be actively involved. But at the same time, nothing is advanced yet.
For City, this looks like one they’re trying to control early. And based on everything we’ve seen so far, they are making sure they are exactly where they need to be if things move quickly.