Manchester United will reportedly have to fend off the threat of arch-nemesis Manchester City if they wish to land Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand in 2025.
The Denmark international has excelled both domestically and internationally over the past couple of years, memorably scoring a long-range thunderbolt in Denmark's 1-1 draw with England at Euro 2024.
After the conclusion of the summer championships, Hjulmand was promoted to club captain at Sporting by now-Man United boss Ruben Amorim and already has two goals and one assist under his belt from a defensive midfield position this season.
Under Hjulmand's on-field leadership, Sporting have started the 2024-25 Primeira Liga season with an unrivalled 11 wins from 11, although they were demolished 5-1 by Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Hjulmand - who only joined Sporting from Italian side Lecce in the summer of 2023 - is not due to become a free agent until 2028, and his deal with the Green and Whites also includes a release clause worth €80m (£66.5m).
Man City, Man United scout Hjulmand in Arsenal loss?
According to GIVEMESPORT, both Man United and Man City sent scouts to run the rule over a handful of Sporting players during their drubbing at the hands of Arsenal on Tuesday, and Hjulmand was among the players monitored.
The Red Devils have supposedly been tracking the 25-year-old for over 12 months - long before Amorim was considered as a successor to Erik ten Hag - and they initially wanted to wait until the summer before making their move.
However, as Man City are searching far and wide for a Rodri replacement and have now thrown their hat into the ring, Man United are 'seriously considering' fast-tracking their pursuit and making a move in January instead.
The report adds that Amorim's move to Old Trafford puts Man United at the head of the queue, though, as Hjulmand formed a 'strong bond' with the Portuguese after Amorim signed him for the Portuguese giants.
Hjulmand boasts a total of six goals and five assists from 67 appearances in a Sporting jersey across all competitions, and he put in a decent shift against Arsenal despite the scoreline, creating three chances and making three tackles.
Which other Sporting players are Man United targeting?
Hjulmand is just one of a plethora of players to be inevitably linked with a move to Man United since Amorim's appointment, a list that also includes one of the hottest attacking properties in Europe.
Viktor Gyokeres was nullified by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in midweek, but he has a staggering 24 goals to show from 20 games this season and could usurp the struggling Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.
Manchester City are also believed to be considering Gyokeres as a possible successor to Erling Haaland if the Norwegian leaves, while Arsenal have been heavily linked too, but Man United have apparently been handed a major boost in their pursuit of the ex-Coventry City man.
Teenage wing-back Geovany Quenda also remains a priority target, but defender Ousmane Diomande may have harmed his chances of a move with his disastrous display against Arsenal, in which he was booked inside the opening few minutes and was fortunate not to be sent off when he conceded a second-half penalty.
