**Arsenal transfer target Morten Hjulmand has reached an “understanding” with his club, Sporting Lisbon, that he will be sold below his release clause this summer, according to reports in Portugal.**
Tabloid [_A BOLA_](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-sporting-hjulmand-em-conversas-com-dirigentes-dos-leoes-sobre-inglaterra-e-italia-2026061818174999533?srsltid=AfmBOoooupp4hDoqjVnBWhV_ivGMYx4cCC0lGONX5xNaQpbO55tbPe3z) claims that the fee required to sign the Danish international is “between €40m (£35m) and €50m (£43m)”.
No team has so far tabled an official bid for Hjulmand, but there are believed to be several teams, including the Gunners, keeping tabs on the player’s situation.
_A BOLA_ report that Mikel Arteta’s side, Manchester City and AC Milan (who are now managed by Hjulmand’s former manager Ruben Amorim) are all in the mix.
Juventus were previously linked with Hjulmand, but the departure of CEO Damien Comolli has resulted in the Serie A side cooling their interest.
Hjulmand could replace Norgaard
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There is a decent chance that the Sporting captain has been identified as a potential replacement for his fellow countryman, Christian Norgaard.
The Arsenal midfielder has a year left on his contract at the Emirates, and the expectation is that he will leave just a year after his arrival from Brentford.
Norgaard failed to earn the trust of Arteta, having started only one Premier League game last season.
Arsenal have other midfield targets
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It doesn’t appear as if Hjulmund is at the top of the shortlist to strengthen the middle of the park. There is thought to be stronger interest in the likes of Lille’s [**Ayyoub Bouaddi**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-transfer-news-ayyoub-bouaddi-alan-smith-exclusive/), West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and even Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
The main issue with all three of those players, though, is cost. Bouaddi is on the market for between £60m and £70m, West Ham want £80m for Fernandes, while Tonali’s valuation is closer to £100m. If sporting director Andrea Berta needs to pursue cheaper options, Hjulmand’s name could move up the list. For now, he is just one of several midfielders under consideration.