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Transfer news: Arsenal and Man United target Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand
Transfer news – Morten Hjulmand’s time at Sporting CP is drawing to a close, and according to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manhã, the 26-year-old Danish midfielder wants to cap his Lisbon chapter by lifting a trophy before completing an expected summer exit. His appearance against Gil Vicente, where he scored Sporting’s third in a 3-0 win, already carries the feeling of a farewell. There is a growing belief inside the club that it may well have been his last match at Alvalade.
Transfer news: What Sporting CP are doing behind the scenes?
The clearest evidence of a departure lies not in headlines but in Sporting’s internal planning. President Frederico Varandas is reportedly prepared to accept around €40m (£34m), despite a formal release clause standing at €80m (£69m). Sporting have also already moved on to replacements.
Rodrigo Zalazar has joined from Braga for €30m (£26m), Pedro Lima is set to arrive from AVS for €4m (£3.4m) plus bonuses, and Tottenham loanee João Palhinha, currently at Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich, is viewed as the preferred long-term successor, with the Portuguese international reportedly willing to take a significant wage cut to return home.
Arsenal and Manchester United remain the two names most prominently attached to Hjulmand’s signature at this stage. Manchester City linger in the wider picture alongside Atlético Madrid, but the Premier League pair are leading the race. Reports from CaughtOffside confirm that both clubs have explored the situation, with United said to need at least two midfielders this summer.
A separate report via Mogaz states that Arsenal have already agreed personal terms with Hjulmand, though no official bid has yet arrived. Given that he is a boyhood Arsenal supporter with a club tattoo to match, the emotional pull towards north London is genuine.
Transfer news: Who offers Hjulmand the better fit?
This is genuinely interesting because both clubs present compelling but very different cases.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have assembled one of the most tactically coherent squads in European football. They already have Martin Zubimendi controlling tempo deep, meaning Hjulmand would need to compete or rotate rather than walk straight into the starting line-up. The structure suits him, the ambition suits him, and the emotional connection is real, but a guaranteed starting role is far from certain, especially if Christian Nørgaard departs and a direct replacement comes in.
Manchester United under Michael Carrick, meanwhile, represent a far more urgent need. Carrick has publicly earmarked two midfield additions this summer, and Hjulmand’s profile, physical, dominant in duels, ranking in the 95th percentile for tackles won across European midfielders, gives United exactly what they lack. The project is still rebuilding, the clarity around the permanent managerial role is unresolved, and the squad depth trails Arsenal’s considerably. However, Hjulmand would almost certainly start from day one at Old Trafford.
Arsenal target £46m Man City outcast in transfer news boost
Realistically, the better footballing option this summer are Manchester United. At £34m, Hjulmand would represent exceptional value for a side that genuinely needs his qualities immediately. Arsenal have a stronger short-term ambition, but their midfield is already crowded at the base. For a player at the peak of his career wanting regular football and immediate responsibility, the Red Devils make more sense, even if the project carries more uncertainty than the Emirates. This transfer news will define a significant part of both clubs’ windows.