Ruben Amorim has already named the player he regards as a ‘complete’ midfielder as Manchester United seek reinforcements in the middle of the park.
United have spent close to £200million rebuilding their attack with the signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko this summer.
The club are still working on deals to offload Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho to help fund a move for a midfielder before the summer transfer window closes on 1 September.
United explored a move to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton, identifying the 21-year-old star as their top target. But the Seagulls’ huge asking price, in the excess of £100million, has forced them to shelve those plans until next year.
United are still light on options in midfield with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro starting in the opening game of the season against Arsenal on Sunday.
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The Portugal international is not a natural central midfielder with his best work coming further up the pitch with questions over whether Casemiro can withstand the pace of another season in the Premier League. Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are the club’s only other recognised options.
While a move for Baleba now looks increasingly unlikely, United are exploring other midfield options.
The Premier League side have been credited with interest in Sevilla’s Lucien Agoume, linked with Arsenal earlier in the window. Reports also suggest Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand is an option being considered – one Amorim thinks very highly of.
The Denmark international captained Sporting to another title last season having been signed by the club during Amorim’s reign in charge.
Hjulmand joined Sporting from Italian side Lecce in the summer of 2023, replacing Manuel Ugarte following his £51million move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Ugarte had two impressive seasons in the Portuguese capital, effectively taking Joao Palhinha’s place in the side before replacing him permanently when the Portugal international was sold to Fulham in the summer of 2022. Following Hjulmand’s arrival, Sporting went onto win the Portuguese title that season with the Dane playing a key role in midfield.
It was Sporting’s first title in 19 years and while Amorim ‘loved’ the industry of Palhinha and Ugarte, he explained at the time he was keen to move away from that type of midfielder, describing Hjulmand as a ‘more complete player.’
‘The big difference is that we have improved in our organised attack. We had the principles of the first year, when defensively we were very good, but we didn’t spend much time in organised attack,’ Amorim said. ‘We spent a lot of time creating offensive nuances and then we discovered what kind of players we need.’
He continued: ‘We are always growing and I think we have to be clearer in defending and we have to change some characteristics that will help us in the future. It’s a normal evolution and then there’s also the merit of scouting. I love Palhinha and Ugarte, but I would say that Hjulmand is the most complete player in his position. I’m certainly no longer their favourite coach, but it’s a matter of everyone at the Academy understanding our playing philosophy.’