Arsenal’s pursuit of Morten Hjulmand may have received an unexpected boost after fresh reporting from Portugal challenged one of the recent developments in the midfielder’s transfer saga.
Over recent weeks, the Sporting captain has been linked with almost every major transfer destination imaginable.
Manchester United have repeatedly been presented as strong contenders, Manchester City were previously described as being in an advantageous position through Hugo Viana, Atletico Madrid appeared to have surged ahead after reports of an agreement with the player, and evenReal Madrid entered the conversation through the José Mourinho links.
The picture now appears rather different. According to A Bola, Hjulmand’s future is still being actively discussed behind the scenes with Sporting, but some of the recent claims surrounding Atletico Madrid do not match the reality of the situation.
Atletico reports challenged
One of the most notable details in the report concerns Atletico Madrid. Spanish reports recently claimed Diego Simeone’s side had reached advanced negotiations with Hjulmand and were close to moving forward with a transfer.
A Bola, however, says that is not the case. The Portuguese newspaper states that, contrary to what had been reported elsewhere, Hjulmand has not negotiated with Atletico Madrid, at least for now.
That does not mean Atletico have disappeared from the race. The club’s interest is well known and dates back to January, when they attempted to sign the midfielder.
However, it does suggest the Spanish side are not as far ahead as some reports had indicated. And for Arsenal, that could be significant.
England remains the most likely destination
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the report is the assessment of where Hjulmand is most likely to end up.
According to A Bola, the two most probable destinations at this stage are the Premier League and Serie A. That fits with much of what has emerged throughout the season.
Hjulmand has long been associated with a move to England and there is already an informal agreement in place with Sporting allowing him to leave for between €40m and €50m (£34m-£43m), despite his official release clause standing at €80m (£69m).
The newspaper also reveals additional context behind that arrangement. The understanding between player and club was reportedly established after Juventus made a strong push for Hjulmand last summer.
Interest from Turin intensified after Sporting and Juventus met in the Champions League, but subsequently cooled as the Italian side prioritised strengthening other areas of the squad and sporting director Damien Comolli departed.
For now, Juventus are no longer considered one of the leading contenders.
Constant contact over the future
Another notable detail is the relationship between Hjulmand and Sporting during this process.
The midfielder recently revealed he expected to sit down with club officials to discuss his future. According to A Bola, however, no formal summit is actually required.
The report states that Hjulmand and Sporting’s hierarchy remain in constant contact regarding both the present and the future.
As captain, the Danish international believes he has a responsibility to keep communication open with the club. Sporting appear equally comfortable with that approach.
The result is a transfer process that looks unusually calm and organised. There is no public dispute, no pressure campaign and no disagreement over valuation.
Instead, both sides appear to be working towards the same outcome.
Milan remain in the picture
The report also revisits another angle that has surfaced before. Ruben Amorim remains an admirer of Hjulmand after bringing him to Sporting from Lecce in 2023.
Milan are not in the strongest financial position, particularly after missing out on Champions League football, but A Bola notes that Amorim has often shown an ability to convince club executives to push for players he truly wants.
That keeps the Italian route alive, even if England currently appears the more likely destination.
But if the formerly linked sides are not as advanced as previously suggested, Arsenal may find the path to Hjulmand slightly clearer than it appeared a few days ago.