Manchester United are now in a strong position to win the race for a "fantastic" Carlos Baleba alternative, despite rival interest from Juventus.
Man Utd eyeing Baleba alternatives after halting pursuit
It was always going to be difficult for Man United to lure Baleba to Old Trafford this summer, given that Brighton & Hove Albion were set to hold out for £115m, and Ruben Amorim's side are now believed to have pulled the plug on the deal.
As a result, the Red Devils have been forced to move on to different targets in central midfield, and a number of exciting options have made their way onto the shortlist.
Amorim knows Morten Hjulmand well, with the United boss working with the midfielder during his time at Sporting, but given the £68m release clause in his contract, a deal could be on the expensive side.
However, according to a report from Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Man United should be in a strong position to win the race for Hjulmand, despite rival interest from Juventus, as they are less likely to be put off by the huge asking price.
The Italian club, on the other hand, had been hoping to sign the maestro for less than half of Sporting's asking price, and consider the Portuguese club's current valuation to be way too high.
As such, the Red Devils are better-placed to sign the 26-year-old this summer, and the next few days are said to be crucial, with Juventus standing no chance of winning the race if Amorim's side decide to launch a formal move.
"Fantastic" Hjulmand impressing for club and country
The Danish midfielder has certainly impressed at international level in recent times, with compatriot Andreas Christensen saying: "Morten has become extremely important to the team. For us in defense, he always offers a passing option and provides a lot of tranquility. He is a fantastic player."
Morten Hjulmand for Sporting Lisbon
Morten Hjulmand for Sporting Lisbon
Christensen is right to point out that passing is one of the central midfielder's key strengths, as his ability in possession of the ball has regularly been on display for Sporting over the course of the past year.
Statistic Average per 90
Passes attempted 63.65 (89th percentile)
Pass completion % 90.2% (97th percentile)
Progressive passes 6.75 (85th percentile)
That said, there are some doubts over whether the Sporting star is a like-for-like alternative to Baleba, given that the Brighton midfielder is arguably more solid defensively, having averaged more tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90 over the past year.
Not only that, but Man United should also be wary of Hjulmand's huge asking price, as £68m would be a huge sum to pay for a player who is yet to prove himself in one of Europe's 'big five' leagues.