Manchester United have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon's Morten Hjulmand after he confirmed his desire to play in the Premier League.
Hjulmand is widely considered one of the best holding midfield players in Portugal and was a crucial member of the Sporting squad that won the Primeira Liga title last season.
The 24-year-old made 30 league appearances for the Green and Whites during the 2023-24 campaign, contributing three goals and two assists.
He has been named in his national team's Euro 2024 squad and is expected to play a key role in the engine room in Denmark's opening group game on June 16 against Slovenia.
Owing to his impressive performances for the Primeira Liga champions, Hjulmand has attracted significant interest from clubs across Europe, including Man United, who are believed to consider him a 'priority target.'
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Hjulmand confirms desire to play in the Premier League
The Red Devils have now been given a solid reason to be optimistic about securing the highly-rated midfielder's signature after he admitted that his goal is to play in the Premier League in the near future.
In a recent interview with Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Hjulmand was asked about his future plans amid links to the Premier League. He responded, "I'd say that it is a destination I could see myself going to in the future.
"Whether it's a dream, I don't know. But it is a goal for me to play in the Premier League one day."
Man United's midfield is expected to undergo a major overhaul this summer, with players such as Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek likely on their way out.
Hjulmand's debut season at Sporting also impressed current Red Devils' captain, and former Sporting player, Bruno Fernandes, who praised the 24-year-old's abilities back in March.
When asked about Fernandes' comments, Hjulmand responded, "It's always nice to get praise from other big profiles.
"I know he's a former Sporting player and he's still a big fan of the club, so it's great to know that he's still watching. It can only make me happy to get praise from a player like him."
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United to battle La Liga giants for Hjulmand signature
The 24-year-old's current contract with Sporting has a £65m release clause built-in and runs until June 2028.
Barcelona have also been linked with a move for the talented midfielder but will likely struggle to meet the Lions' asking price given their current financial constraints.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are currently conducting a review of the club and are expected to decide on the fate of manager Erik ten Hag, along with several first-team players in the coming days.
United ended the 2023-24 Premier League season in eighth place, but managed to secure Europa League football next season by winning the FA Cup against rivals Manchester City last month.
Devesh Jaganath
