“Manchester City accelerates negotiations for Morten Hjulmand.”

The transfer market is heating up explosively at Alvalade, and the protagonist of this saga is Morten Hjulmand, the Danish midfielder who has been at the center of interest from Europe’s biggest sharks. Manchester City, the English giant and reigning champion, is determined to secure the Sporting player in the upcoming transfer window, a mission that has taken on increasingly concrete contours in recent weeks. The race for the 26-year-old midfielder is becoming frantic, with clubs like Juventus and Manchester United in the forefront, but the citizens seem willing to push hard to ensure they don’t miss out on this gem.

According to our sources, Manchester City has already made informal contacts with the structure of Sporting, in a clear attempt to get ahead of the competition and finalize the deal right after the end of the season. One of the key assets in this operation is Hugo Viana, the sporting director of Manchester City, who has a deep understanding of the reality at Alvalade and the undeniable value that Hjulmand represents. Interestingly, it was Viana himself who brought the Danish midfielder from Lecce to Sporting in the 2023/2024 season for 19.5 million euros, further strengthening this privileged connection between the two clubs.

Although there are currently no formal negotiations underway, Manchester City is already aware of the conditions required by Sporting to negotiate Hjulmand. With a release clause set at 80 million euros, the Lisbon club is willing to negotiate between 40 and 50 million, an opening that reflects the exemplary professionalism the player has demonstrated over the past three years. It is important to highlight that the midfielder’s valuation has been hindered by Denmark’s absence from the last World Cup, a factor that directly influences the athlete’s market value.

The administration led by Frederico Varandas views this potential departure with calmness, confident that the player’s cycle at Alvalade has reached the ideal point to secure a significant financial return, thanks to the excellent sporting performance that Hjulmand has provided. The Danish player has been a key figure in the victories of the last two national titles for Sporting, even wearing the captain’s armband, demonstrating his importance within the locker room.

But Sporting is not standing still waiting. Just as it happened with other departures of key players, such as Gyokeres last season, the lions are already preparing for the future and consider Hjulmand’s departure for the 2026/2027 season practically certain. The scouting department’s priority is to find a worthy replacement, with a very similar profile: an experienced player, physically strong, and with future appreciation potential. A large part of the funds obtained from the transfer of the Danish midfielder will be invested in this strategic signing.

With the market rapidly approaching, the pressure is mounting. Manchester City feels the urgent need to strengthen the midfield, especially with the imminent departure of Rodri, one of the team’s most influential players. Hjulmand fits perfectly into the desired profile and has already been the subject of multiple observations throughout the season, reinforcing the citizens’ conviction to proceed with the deal.

Sporting knows that this loss is almost inevitable, and the immediate challenge is to manage the process as effectively as possible, ensuring maximum financial return and securing a succession that maintains the team’s competitive level. There are still a few weeks until the market reopens, but Manchester City is firmly positioning itself to secure one of the most valuable and consistent players from Alvalade in recent years. And with Hugo Viana in charge of this dossier, it will be difficult for the Danish midfielder to escape the plans of the English champions. The battle is on, and it promises to be one of the major themes of the summer transfer market.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.