Man Utd now formulating an offer for £68m Baleba alternative
Manchester United are preparing a move for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, according to The Sun.
The Red Devils are aiming to bolster the defensive midfield department before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba has been earmarked as the prime target, but he could be beyond the club’s reach.
The Seagulls are reluctant to sanction his sale for less than £120 million and may demand a huge initial payment too.
Amidst this, Hjulmand has been identified as a cheaper alternative by manager Ruben Amorim, having previously worked with him at Sporting CP.
The Dane was a favourite under Amorim at the Portuguese champions, and he could be recruited for a relatively lesser transfer fee than Baleba.
The midfielder has a £68m release clause in his Sporting CP deal, but he could be signed for £10m less (£58m) if the necessary add-ons are met.
Hjulmand would be a perfect fit for Amorim
Baleba signed for Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023, and he has quickly developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the league.
Hence, the Seagulls are reluctant to sanction his sale for less than £120m, and the onus is on United to make a proposal closer to the price tag.
United may require plenty of player sales to do so, and it seems a difficult task to sign the Cameroon international at the current point in time.
If the club were to opt for an alternative, Hjulmand would be a perfect solution for Amorim.
The Dane is a strong ball distributor. He had a passing accuracy of 91 percent in the Primeira Liga last season with six recoveries and two tackles per game.
The 26-year-old also won 62 percent of his duels and induced two fouls per outing. We won’t be surprised if Amorim were to push for his signature.
Hjulmand has one potential demerit with his tendency to pick up yellow cards, but that may not hamper his prospects of making the move to Old Trafford.
Stats from Sofascore.com
Article written by Sri Aswin .