Exclusive: Man Utd leading the race for Ruben Amorim’s ‘fiery’ pupil | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly keen to reunite Ruben Amorim with Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand.

The 26-year-old began his career at FC Copenhagen and then went to play in Austria for Admira Wacker between 2018 and 2021.

Afterwards, the defensive midfielder joined Lecce and helped the club earn promotion to Serie A in 2022 before winning plaudits for his solid displays Italian top flight, which earned him a transfer to Sporting in the summer of 2023, requested by Amorim.

The Dane immediately cemented himself as a key component in the manager’s tactical system, and continued to produce the goods even following his exit in November 2024, when the 40-year-old completed a mid-season switch to Man Utd.

The former Lecce man is renowned for his ability to shield the backline and help his teammates bring the ball forward. He has also been described as a ‘fiery’ player by his compatriot Thomas Delaney.

Man United identify Morten Hjulmand as main target

(Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

In recent months, Hjulmand has been occasionally linked with a move to Old Trafford, but the other profiles, like Atalanta’s Ederson, appeared to be higher on INEOS’ shortlist.

Nevertheless, sources close to Stretty News reveal that the Denmark international is now considered a priority target for United, even though Ederson and Richard Rios are still being considered.

The Red Devils might face some competition, as Juventus, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Liverpool, PSG and Barcelona are also keeping tabs on the player. However, our sources confirm that Man Utd are the frontrunners in the race.

How much would Hjulmand cost Man Utd

It is believed that Amorim’s presence at Carrington will give the Premier League giants a significant advantage, as Hjulmand would relish the opportunity to play under the Portuguese tactician once more.

The main hurdle for United remains striking an agreement with Sporting CP who insist on collecting the full value of the player’s release clause (€80 million). However, the Lisbon-based giants could eventually accept an offer in the region of €50-60 million.

Man Utd have been occupied in their negotiations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo, but they’re expected to address their other departments once they put this saga to bed, one way or the other.