Manchester CityThe midfield plan is gathering momentum ahead of the summer window, and Morten Hjulmand is still right in the middle of it.
The Sporting CP captain has been on City’s radar for the past few weeks. As covered earlierThe club have already begun to take a closer look at him as part of reshaping their midfield, and the interest has not waned.
City are assessing options to strengthen the center of the pitch, particularly with some uncertainty around Rodri and the need to maintain checks and balances in their system.
Sporting, as always, is right on that recruiting trail.
Manchester City knows the Lisbon club well. And this time they also have a big internal advantage. Hugo Viana, now part of the Premier League team’s structure, was the one who signed Hjulmand from Lecce.
This connection brings familiarity, trust, and a clear idea of what it takes to close a deal. As mentioned in earlier reportsThat relationship is seen as one of the city’s major advantages in this race.
With this in mind, things are starting to move forward.
Contact made, positioning in progress
Manchester City have already made informal contact regarding Morten Hjulmand as they look to make a move in the competition, as reported ball.
The plan is to move quickly, gather information and be ready when the market opens. Clubs like Manchester United and Juventus are also in the picture, but City are trying to stay one step ahead.
Sporting knows what’s going to happen. as stated beforeThey have already begun preparations for the midfielder’s departure, which is now widely seen as imminent at the end of the season.
Hjulmand has a release clause of €80m (£69m) but, as reported elsewhere and reinforced again in Portugal, the actual price is expected to be between €40m and €50m (£34m to £43m).
On display in England
The latest development adds another layer. Morten Hjulmand was impressive in England during Sporting’s Champions League clash against Arsenal this week. The game finished 0–0, with Arsenal advancing after winning the first leg in Lisbon.
That match gave English clubs a proper exposure to him in a high-level setting, something that has been growing as interest has grown in recent weeks.
According to the same A Bola report, what is more interesting is that his agent Ivan Marco Benes was present there.
As we have seen in the last updateThe agent has been around the player at key moments, and this was another one.
After the game, the two (Bynes and Hjulmand) were seen talking, which only adds to the feeling that given the setting and exposure, things are just getting started behind the scenes as summer approaches.
Profile, numbers and fit
Morten Hjulmand’s appeal is about consistency and control. During the 2025/26 season, he made approximately 41 appearances, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists.
Furthermore, FootyStats data shows that he averages around 2.8 tackles and 2.0 interceptions per 90 minutes. Also approximately 6.6 ball recoveries per match.
On the ball, he keeps things ticking. He averages over 60 passes per game with over 85% accuracy, and makes approximately 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes.
He’s not flashy, but he brings structure, balance and leadership – exactly the kind of profile City value.
what happens next
The situation is clearly developing. Manchester City have made contact through Hugo Viana, who remains a key factor. Sporting is already planning for life after that. And his agent remains actively involved. But at the same time, nothing has advanced yet.
As for City, it looks like they are trying to take control early. And based on everything we’ve seen so far, they’re making sure they’re exactly where they need to be if things move forward quickly.
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