Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand has turned down interest from Manchester United and Tottenham to agree personal terms with Juventus, according to reports in Italy.
Hjulmand, 26, joined Sporting from Lecce in 2023 and has gone on to establish himself as a linchpin of the side, making 96 appearances in all competitions for the club over the last two seasons.
Last term, Hjulmand was a near ever-present as Sporting won a domestic double and the Dane earned himself a place in the Primeira Liga Team of the Season for a second time in as many years with his outstanding performances across the campaign.
But speculation has been mounting that Hjulmand may well have played his last match for the Portuguese champions, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Juve all known to be admirers.
United have been monitoring Hjulmand’s progress for well over a year and Ruben Amorim’s departure from Sporting to take over the reins at Old Trafford has only intensified rumours of a possible reunion in the north west.
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However, Juventus have asserted themselves as the overwhelming favourites to capture Hjulmand this summer and an agreement over his proposed salary in Turin, according to Corriere dello Sport.
It’s believed Hjlumand has unequivocally ‘said yes’ to Juve, with the midfielder’s camp actively pushing to secure a return to Italian football in recent days.
The report adds that Hjlumand has been placed at the top of Juve’s wishlist in central midfield – above Spurs’ Yves Bissouma and Wolves’ Andre – and head coach Igor Tudor has personally endorsed the move.
While Hjlumand has a hefty €80million (£69m) release clause in Lisbon, it’s claimed Sporting could be prepared to do business for a fee of between €50-60m (£43-52m) for the sought-after Denmark international.
Hjlumand’s current contract at the Jose Alvalade Stadium runs through to June 2028.
Hjlumand has remained tight-lipped on rumours of an impending move to Juventus, but had previously talked up a move to the Premier League.
‘I’d say that is a place I could see myself going to in the future,’ he told Tipsbladet last year.
‘Whether it’s a dream, I don’t know. But it is a goal for me to play in the Premier League one day.’
Juve have already completed permanent deals for Michele Di Gregorio, Pierre Kalulu, Lloyd Kelly and Nicolas Gonzalez this summer and the club are intent on further strengthening their attack before the transfer deadline.
The Old Lady have been in discussions to sign Jadon Sancho for some time and fellow Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford also finds himself the club’s shortlist of potential targets.
It’s understood a deal worth in the region of £13m is now close between United and Juve for Sancho.
Rashford, meanwhile, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, is valued at around £40m by the Red Devils.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that new signing, Matheus Cunha, had taken over the iconic No.10 shirt from Rashford – yet another indication that the England forward’s days in Manchester are numbered.
Sancho has just 12 months remaining on his current contract with United, while Rashford is tied into a deal at Old Trafford until 2028.
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