Arsenal’s chances of signing Morten Hjulmand this summer have just improved a bit, with a new report from Portugal suggesting one of the alternative routes for the Sporting captain is looking less realistic than previously thought.
According to A Bola, Hjulmand remains in constant contact with Sporting regarding his future, with discussions centred largely around two leagues: England and Italy.
They state that the midfielder has never hidden his desire to return to Serie A after making his name at Lecce before joining Sporting in 2023.
Yet while Italy may still appeal to him personally, the current market points much more strongly towards the Premier League.
Hjulmand and Sporting discussing next step
One of the more revealing details in A Bola’s report is how aligned Sporting and the player appear to be.
There has long been an understanding between Hjulmand, his representatives and Sporting’s hierarchy that this would likely be the summer for a transfer.
The midfielder has an agreement allowing him to leave for between €40m and €50m (£34m-£43m), despite his official release clause standing at €80m (£69m).
The newspaper reports that conversations about what comes next are ongoing, but not through formal meetings. Instead, Hjulmand and Sporting speak regularly.
As captain, the Dane believes he has a responsibility to keep the club informed about developments, while Sporting have maintained open communication throughout the process.
The result is a transfer situation that feels unusually calm. There is no public pressure, no disagreement over valuation and no signs of conflict. Both sides appear to be moving towards the same outcome.
Ruben Amorim reunion not happening – at least for now
When Ruben Amorim was appointed Milan manager, reports in Italy quickly suggested he would try to bring Hjulmand with him.
The logic was quite obvious. Amorim signed the midfielder from Lecce, developed him into one of Sporting’s most important players and eventually handed him the captaincy.
However, A Bola say the reality is quite different. According to the newspaper, neither Sporting, the player nor his representatives have received any approach from Milan.
The main reason appears to be money, though. Sporting’s asking price is far above their reach, and Milan simply do not view a defensive midfielder as the priority area to spend that kind of money.
Italy route becoming narrower
The Milan situation is not the only obstacle standing between Hjulmand and a return to Italy.
Juventus played a major role in shaping the current transfer story. According to A Bola, the agreement allowing Hjulmand to leave Sporting for below his release clause was established after Juventus made a serious push to sign him last summer.
His reputation in Turin grew further when Sporting and Juventus met in the Champions League. Since then, though, circumstances have changed.
Juventus have shifted priorities, financial restrictions have become a factor and one of Hjulmand’s strongest admirers at the club, sporting director Damien Comolli, has left.
The newspaper also suggests Juventus are wary of introducing another major leadership figure into a dressing room already captained by Manuel Locatelli.
For now then, the Juventus track has cooled significantly. A Bola believe only Inter Milan and Napoli currently have the financial power required to pursue Hjulmand seriously within Italy.
Childhood dream could point Arsenal’s way
While the Serie A route looks more complicated, the Premier League route remains very active. A Bola specifically highlight Arsenal and Manchester City among the English clubs still following the situation.
But for Arsenal, there is an extra element. The newspaper notes that a move to north London would allow Hjulmand to fulfil a childhood dream.
That will not surprise anyone who has followed this story closely. The midfielder’s affection for Arsenal has surfaced repeatedly over the years and continues to appear whenever his future becomes a topic.
But we can’t take Manchester City out of the picture so soon. Although some reports have suggested City have lost ground to other clubs, A Bola point out that sporting director Hugo Viana remains a huge admirer of Hjulmand’s qualities.
After all, he was the executive who brought the midfielder to Sporting from Lecce and knows exactly what he could offer in England.
So while Hjulmand may still dream of returning to Italy one day, the latest developments suggest his strongest opportunities currently lie across the Channel.