Manchester United are eyeing Morten Hjulmand as a direct replacement for Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo’s position at Manchester United looks shaky at the moment. Ruben Amorim has not given him a single minute in the Premier League this season. He was benched in both league matches, and the only full match he got was in the EFL Cup, where the team lost to Grimsby Town.
Mainoo has made it clear that he wants the opportunity to play regularly, especially with the 2026 World Cup in mind. He had asked the club to go on loan, but United turned it down. Amorim recently said that Mainoo will have to fight for a midfield spot with Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, talks for a new contract are also stalled as there is a big difference between his current salary and the representatives’ demand.
Hjulmand’s discussion and United’s plans
Now, amid this situation, Manchester United have set their sights on Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand. Reports from The Athletic say that United are considering him as a potential option, especially since Brighton asked for a huge amount for Carlos Baleba. As soon as the club withdrew from the race for Baleba, Hjulmand and Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton were on the list. However, it does not seem easy to get Hjulmand out of Sporting because the club has already sold Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal, and now they are in no mood to let go of more big players.
Manchester United are eyeing Morten Hjulmand as a direct replacement for Kobbie Mainoo.
Manchester United are admirers of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand
The Danish midfielder knows Amorim well. While at Sporting, he signed the Danish midfielder from Lecce and used him continuously for two seasons. During that time, the now 26-year-old made a significant contribution in winning the league title, also took over the captaincy and secured his place with his strong performances. He has a contract till 2028 and has played all four opening matches for Sporting. In this situation, if United wants to get him, then they will either have to pay a huge amount or wait till January.
Mainoo vs Hjulmand
Now the question arises whether the discussion of bringing Hjulmand instead of giving Mainoo a chance is the right direction or not. Mainoo is young, has tremendous skill and is the club’s future, but his style doesn’t completely match Amorim’s demands. He tries to get forward, but sometimes gets loose defensively. Amorim currently wants a player who can hold the team together from the back. Hjulmand fits in here. He can stand as a defensive screen, break up plays and get the ball back quickly. His leadership and game-reading ability make him even more important.
Amorim can use the Sporting CP captain as the lone holding midfielder in a 4-3-3 or as part of a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1. This will allow Bruno Fernandes and the other midfielders to go into attack freely. This can be helpful for the team’s balance immediately, but losing Mainoo can be costly in the long term. In our opinion, the club should send Mainoo on loan to gain experience if they try to bring in Hjulmand. Both decisions together will make the team better.
However, the truth is that it is almost impossible to get Hjulmand out of Sporting in the next four days. Maybe the picture could change in January, but as things stand, a deal looks difficult. The biggest challenge for United right now are to keep Mainoo and find a balance in midfield. Meanwhile, Manchester United are ready to consider bids of £45 million or more for the midfield star this summer