For a club that is struggling in the lower rungs of the Premier League table, Manchester United still hold a sparkling international football presence.
Nowhere was that presence more clear than during Portugal vs Denmark UEFA Nations League quarterfinal second leg, a game Portugal won 5-2 in extra time.
Patrick Dorgu, Christian Eriksen, and Rasmus Hojlund suited up for Denmark, with the former two combining for a goal, while Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes were ever-present for Portugal.
However, it was one player on the pitch not wearing United’s club colours who Ruben Amorim would’ve been watching closely.
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
He should be the club’s top target in the summer.
Man Utd top summer transfer target
Manchester United walk into arguably their most important summer window since Sir Alex Ferguson in a few months.
For the first time, an ambitious ownership group has been joined at the helm by their own manager, paving the way for a long-term vision of squad building.
The priorities in the summer are plenty but watching Portugal vs Denmark, it was clear that a certain player who has a history with Amorim will be an ideal addition to the Man Utd squad.
More United News
Starting for Denmark in defensive midfield, Morten Hjulmand didn’t have the best game of his career but he personified what Amorim wants from his players – physicality.
The Dane played the full 120 minutes in a brutal box-to-box role, putting in an all-action performance consisting of three shots, 86 touches, six defensive actions, and seven recoveries.
His presence allowed Christian Eriksen to make regular forays forward, one of which led to his goal via Patrick Dorgu’s cross in a goal made at Man Utd!
Morten Hjulmand is ideal for Man Utd
Man Utd fans are wary by now of a manager going back to his former club to buy players for Man Utd but Hjulmand’s fit is just too ideal to write it off for merely that reason.
United are looking to sell Casemiro, while Eriksen is on an expiring contract so United’s midfield depth will be gutted in the summer.
Kobbie Mainoo is still finding his ideal role in Amorim’s XI while Bruno Fernandes has been used to plug holes everywhere.
In an ideal world, Manuel Ugarte is the only one who’s untouchable in his role as one of the two deeper midfielders, which is where Hjulmand comes in.
As an all-action deep-lying midfielder, he can easily complement Ugarte’s physical, ball-winning style of play while also allowing United to play on the front foot because of his ability to eat up ground quickly.
He is by no means the only signing needed at Old Trafford in the summer but he figures to be a crucial part of the jigsaw to up the physicality levels of the squad.