Portuguese report links Sporting captain with Premier League move
Manchester City remain in the hunt for Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand, with director of football Hugo Viana said to hold a significant admiration for the Danish midfielder. That's according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, as relayed by Sport Witness.
Hjulmand, 27, has been one of the more discussed midfield targets in the Premier League this summer. His defensive intelligence, passing range and leadership qualities have attracted attention from across Europe's top divisions.
The Sporting captain arrived from Lecce in 2023 in a deal overseen by Viana during his time as the Lisbon club's sporting director. That prior relationship adds an intriguing layer to City's interest.
A Bola report that Hjulmand's most likely next destination is the Premier League rather than Serie A, despite the player's personal affinity for Italian football and a well-documented desire to return there at some point in his career.
Juventus made a serious push for Hjulmand last summer — a pursuit that helped establish a sell-on structure allowing his departure for between €40-50 million, significantly below his official €80 million release clause. But Juve's interest has cooled considerably since then, with a change in transfer priorities and the departure of sporting director Damien Comolli among the factors.
AC Milan, where former Sporting manager Ruben Amorim now operates, have made no formal approach despite speculation of a reunion. Sporting's asking price sits beyond Milan's current budget, and a defensive midfielder is not considered a priority investment at that level of expenditure.
A Bola note that only Inter Milan and Napoli retain the financial power to pursue Hjulmand seriously within Italy, narrowing the Serie A route to a far smaller number of realistic outcomes than suggested earlier in the window.
Arsenal's interest adds another dimension. A Bola note that a move to the Emirates would allow Hjulmand to fulfil a personal ambition — the midfielder's well-documented affinity for Arsenal having surfaced at various points throughout his career.
With the Italian route narrowing and the Premier League established as the most likely destination, City and Arsenal appear the two clubs best positioned to sign him.