Manchester United have had a busy summer season, bringing in gamers like Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo to make sure that the crew does not undergo from the identical lack of ability to attain targets that they did final season.
Regardless of this intensive enterprise, Ruben Amorim nonetheless has positions he desires to fill, together with a defensive midfielder. At present, the crew has Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro to fill these roles, however there have been query marks over Ugarte and Casemiro, and Mainoo and Fernandes’ greatest qualities are primarily proven in assault.
There had been reviews suggesting that teenager Toby Collyer may make the step up and fill this position, however he has since been loaned out to West Bromwich Albion. Over the latest weeks, United have been closely linked with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, however the south coast facet’s asking worth exceeded £100 million, which put the Colombian out of their finances.
With earlier pursuits turning fruitless, Amorim has turned his consideration away from the Premier League and again in the direction of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as he considers reuniting with one in every of his former gamers.
Man Utd and Amorim goal Hjulmand eager on transfer
Manchester United are contemplating signing Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand. The 26-year-old Denmark star was signed by Amorim from Lecce in 2023, and the membership now see him as a possible resolution to their midfield woes.
Fabrizio Romano spoke in regards to the curiosity on his YouTube channel, through Stretty Information, saying “he’s a participant who has at all times been appreciated by Amorim”. He went on to disclose that this curiosity is mutual and that “Hjulmand might be eager about a transfer to Manchester United”. Amorim cherished him at Sporting, and he performed him on 65 events.
It is at present unsure how a lot of their switch finances Manchester United has left. Studies from The Athletic have indicated that United could have opened one other Rotating Credit score Facility so as to finance extra offers this summer season. It additionally seems to be doubtless that United will obtain cash from the sale of the remaining members of the so-called “Bomb Squad” (Antony, Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho), which can assist them facilitate a transfer for Hjulmand.
The defensive midfielder at present has a launch clause of £68 million, so except United can negotiate Sporting down, they’ll as soon as once more need to spend massive.
Hjulmand is an costly gamble
Whereas issues look constructive between two of the three events, the sticking level on this deal might be Sporting Lisbon. The membership have already bought Viktor Gyokeres, Marcus Edwards and Dário Essugo to Premier League golf equipment this summer season, and Romano has expressed their reluctance to let go of any extra of their first-teamers.
Nevertheless, as Hjulmand has the beforehand talked about launch clause, United may go straight into negotiations with the participant and circumvent Sporting in the event that they had been prepared to pay the £68 million. Amorim’s system includes taking part in out from the again, and United want gamers who’re each able to contributing defensively and connecting the defence to the assault.
Whereas Hjulmand will doubtless be capable to contribute defensively, the stats point out that he will not do a lot in the way in which of connecting the crew. Final season, he registered within the nineteenth percentile for progressive carries and the thirteenth percentile for key passes, that means he can be a really comparable profile signing to Ugarte.
The options for United is that they attempt to discover a new midfielder, or they wait to signal Hjulmand subsequent summer season, after they’ll have a greater likelihood of negotiating Sporting down from his launch clause worth. Nevertheless, this might imply one other season with out midfield reinforcements, which may create main points for United on the pitch.
