Ousmande Diomande, Morten Hjulmand, Zeno De Bast
Oeiras, Portugal – 07 25 2025: Ousmane Diomande, Morten Hjulmand and Zeno Debast seen during Trofeu de Cinco Violinos game between teams of Sporting CP and Villarreal CF
Manchester City’s pursuit of Morten Hjulmand continues to gather layers, with the situation now moving beyond scouting and into early positioning from multiple sides.
The Sporting CP captainremains firmly on City’s radar. The Premier League club have already made informal contact and are working to stay ahead of rivals in what is shaping up to be a competitive race.
We also covered that Hjulmand spoke with his agent Ivan Marko Benes after the Champions League clash against Arsenal in London, another moment where he was effectively on display in England.
At the same time, recent developments show movement is not only happening from the club side. The player’s camp is now starting to speak.
Agent signals “agreement” expected
Hjulmand’s agent, Ivan Marko Benes, has now publicly addressed the midfielder’s future, as reported by Record in Portugal.
Speaking after Sporting’s Champions League clash against Arsenal in London, the agent suggested that a resolution will eventually be found.
“I cannot comment on any agreement. It is in Sporting’s hands. They are good people. I am sure that at some point we will reach an agreement.”
That line is important. It does not confirm a transfer, but it strongly indicates that discussions around the player’s future are expected to happen and reach a conclusion.
Benes was also careful when asked about a potential move to England.
“I do not really know how to answer that.”
And when it came to a possible transfer fee, he pushed the responsibility back to the club:
“You have to ask Sporting.”
As has been clear throughout, Sporting remain in control of the situation, and the agent’s comments reinforce that position.
Expectation building
Manchester City have made contact. Hugo Viana’s influence remains a key factor. Sporting are already preparing for a potential departure, and the player continues to attract attention at the highest level.
Now, we have the agent openly acknowledging that an agreement will eventually be reached – without committing to any destination or timeline.
At the same time, he made a point of highlighting Hjulmand’s connection to Sporting:
“Everyone knows he loves the club, the city and Portugal. It has been fantastic for him.”
That balance – openness to a future move, but no rush to define it – is typical of situations where a summer transfer is expected but not yet advanced.
Where this leaves Manchester City
For Manchester City, the situation remains one of positioning. They are among the clubs best placed due to early contact and internal knowledge through Hugo Viana.
The expected price range, previously reported at around €40m to €50m (£34m to £43m), still makes the deal realistic.
However, the agent’s comments underline that the process will be controlled by Sporting and likely decided later in the window.
There will be a desire in Lisbon to avoid anything similar to the Viktor Gyökeres saga of last summer. Hjulmand’s agent will be well aware of that.
There is still no indication of advanced negotiations with any club. Instead, what is emerging is a controlled build-up. And Hjulmand’s future is slowly moving from speculation towards a defined outcome – even if the final destination remains open.