Tottenham Hotspur could face a stiff battle against Manchester United for Morten Hjulmand
Tottenham Hotspur have this impending need to bring in a new midfielder in the winter transfer window.
Spurs signed defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich and playmaker Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. While Palhinha has been among the standout performers and the club are already planning to turn his loan into a permanent deal, Xavi is still getting adjusted to the demands of Premier League football.
It has to be noted that Palhinha is 30 and cannot play games every three/four days. To keep him fit and firing throughout the season, Spurs must sign a player who can not only cover for the Portuguese but also succeed him in the long run. And one player who has emerged on Tottenham’s radar is Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand.
The north London club are reportedly favourites to sign Morten Hjulmand from Sporting CP as they aim to add steel and tenacity to their midfield unit. Thomas Frank is understood to be a big admirer of his Danish compatriot, and sees him as the ideal player to compete with Palhinha for the No.6 role.
Manchester United to rival Tottenham for Morten Hjulmand
Spurs aren’t the only club keen on Hjulmand. According to a report from Football Insider, Manchester United are very much interested in the defensive midfielder and do hold an advantage over Tottenham and other clubs in the race for his signature, due to his links with head coach Ruben Amorim. It was Ruben Amorim who had signed Hjulmand as Sporting CP boss from Lecce in the summer of 2023.
The Denmark international has a £70million release clause in his Sporting contract, but he could be available for a cut-price £50million fee next year with the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester City circling. So, if Tottenham hold a concrete interest in the 26-year-old, then they must fight off competition from their Premier League rivals Man United and Man City.
Hjulmand has emerged as one of the sought-after defensive midfielders in Europe since heading to his current surroundings in 2023 and making 110 appearances. The Kastrup-born star became Sporting captain before the 2024/25 season following Sebastian Coates’ exit and has been a key cog in the Lions’ machine in back-to-back league winning seasons. A tough-tackling, combative presence on the pitch, he has scored eight goals and provided six assists, alerting several clubs across Europe.
Can Tottenham get Hjulmand’s signature ahead of Man United?
Sporting would not easily sell Hjulmand in the winter window, given their push to the three-peat. Losing their skipper in the midst of the season would be a massive blow for the Portuguese champions. But it does make sense for Tottenham to sign the 26-year-old. He is one of those defensive midfielders that the club must try to bring in before he goes to the World Cup next summer.
The ex-Lecce man is about to enter the peak stages of his career and could make an immediate impact at Tottenham if signed in January. But the interest from Man United definitely doesn’t help the Lilywhites. Given Amorim brought him in at Sporting and enjoyed a great working relationship, the Red Devils may have a slight advantage over Spurs in the race for Hjulmand’s services.
Eventually, it could come down to the finances involved and the club’s respective projects. All in all, Tottenham, knowing they would potentially lose Yves Bissouma in 2026, must do everything possible to sign Sporting’s midfield general in the New Year.
