Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand has been named as a potential alternative to Manuel Ugarte for Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag’s team have been in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Ugarte but have so far been unwilling to meet the €70m (£59m) asking price of the French champions.
United want to sign a central midfielder and second centre-back before the end of the transfer window and could move on to alternatives if PSG do not lower their demands for the Uruguayan.
Hjulmand is a name under consideration according to Football Transfers, having caught the eye with his performances for Denmark at Euro 2024. The 25-year-old scored a spectacular goal against England during the group stage and impressed in Sporting’s Primeira Liga title triumph in 2023-24.
Hjulmand signed for Sporting from Lecce after Ugarte’s departure from the Portuguese side for PSG, having impressed following the Italian side’s promotion to Serie A. Just two players across Europe’s top five leagues made more interceptions than Hjulmand in 2022-23, leading to an €18m move to Lisbon.
He could now replace Ugarte in Manchester United’s list of transfer priorities, though the Red Devils would hope to strike a deal much lower than his €80m release clause.
