A highly rated European midfielder has been linked with Manchester United, as well as two other Premier League clubs, but Ruben Amorim could be the man to push the deal over the line.
Ruben Amorim has been linked to several players from his former club since he began his reign at Old Trafford, but so far, none have come to fruition. In fact, the last player Manchester United signed from Sporting was current captain Bruno Fernandes.
Manchester United’s recent good form may show that Amorim’s system, which was so successful in Portugal, may be starting to replicate in England. This could make the Red Devils an appealing outfit for players looking to move away in the January window.
A versatile midfielder who plays for the badge week in week out has been what United fans have been crying out for, and although Casemiro has been solid recently, he will be 34 next year and is not getting any younger.
This is why Amorim’s 26-year-old former captain could be worth every penny of his discounted price tag of £50 million.
Amorim could be the key to bringing Hjulmand to Old Trafford
Morten Hjulmand has a £70 million release clause in his contract, but it has been reported by Football Insider that Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and Manchester City, as well as United, could whittle this number down to £50m.
If United were to sell the out-on-loan Rasmus Hojlund for the figure of around £39m, which is expected to happen, this could free up the funds to capture the signature of Hjulmand and swap one Danish player for another.
Hjulmand has previously said to Manchester Evening News that “Ruben was one of the reasons I came to Sporting”. United fans will be hoping their manager still has this pulling power, as Hjulmand could play a key role in his system.
Amorim’s history with the Danish international could potentially be the key factor that makes Hjulmand make the switch from Lisbon to Manchester.
Could Hjulmand be Casemiro’s long-term replacement?
As previously mentioned, Casemiro will be 34 towards the beginning of 2026 and with United looking to cut down their overall squad wage bill, this could see the veteran midfielder depart.
Casemiro has played a significant role in Amorim’s system and has performed especially well of late. However, he is not as mobile as he used to be and is not as versatile in other areas of the pitch.
Read more: One effective change from Rúben Amorim has transformed Man Utd’s recent form, he must keep doing it
Hjulmand is a defensively strong midfielder, but is also comfortable in possession and progressing play. This could take the strain off Bruno Fernandes, who we have seen drop deeper at times to start an attack.
Hjulmand may free up Fernandes to be more creative on the ball and potentially play in a role further upfield, closer to Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, without having to worry about a lack of cover or negative passing from his midfield partner.
If the Dane could replicate anywhere near Fernandes’s success and longevity, then down the line, his £50m price tag could look like a bargain if United can get their man.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.