Hjulmand to Man Utd in January: Fabrizio Romano reveals state of play

Fabrizio Romano says that Sporting Lisbon have no intention of selling Man Utd-target Morten Hjulmand in January.

In his latest video on his Italian YouTube channel, Romano discusses the possibility of Juventus signing Hjulmand in Janaury.

The Bianconeri, like Man Utd, are on the market for a new central midfielder in January and have Hjulmand near the top of their shortlist.

However, Romano makes it clear that Sporting will not entertain any offers for their star man.

Hjulmand has an €80 million release clause in his contract at Sporting intend to keep him until the end of the season.

The Denmark star also wants to see out the season but next summer a transfer certainly is possible.

Hjulmand to stay at Sporting in January

This news comes as a blow for Man Utd.

Hjulmand is a player who is greatly admired by his former head coach Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese tactician previously describing Hjulmand as more complete than Sporting predecessors Joao Palhinha and Manuel Ugarte.

The 26-year-old has been brilliant for the reigning Portuguese champions since replacing Ugarte in 2023, captaining the side to last season’s league title.

Unsurprisingly, Hjulmand has been attracting attention from elsewhere, including from Man Utd, who were in the market for a midfielder in the summer. Carlos Baleba was prioritised, but no move materialised.

Hjulmand was also explored, but as The Transfers Podcast revealed at the beginning of August, signing the Denmark international was always going to prove eminently difficult in a window in which Sporting had already lost Viktor Gyokeres.

But United are now returning for Hjulmand in 2026.

Speaking on international duty with Denmark last month, the midfielder would not be drawn on Man Utd’s interest: “I don’t react to rumours. I react to the fact that I should start [the season] at Sporting, where we have performed at a high level.

“I’d rather not answer that,” Hjulmand said evasively when pressed on whether he had talked to any clubs during the summer window.

President Frederico Varandas confirmed after the summer window that the Dane had turned down lucrative transfers that could have seen him triple his salary in favour of staying in Lisbon.

It remains to be seen if Hjulmand is willing to extend his stay in Portugal’s capital, but as far as Sporting are concerned, they are determined to keep hold of him at least until the summer. They do not want to lose their captain in January and ideally want him to sign a new long-term deal.

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