Man Utd keen to sign £67.5m star amid Manuel Ugarte stumbling block

Manchester United are reportedly keen to sign £67.5m Sporting Lisbon star Morten Hjulmand after they hit a stumbling block over Manuel Ugarte.

The Red Devils have agreed personal terms with defensive midfielder Ugarte but haven’t been able to settle on a price with his club Paris Saint-Germain just yet.

Erik ten Hag’s side are growing increasingly frustrated and may decide to pursue alternative transfer targets to Ugarte as they prepare for the 2024-25 campaign.

One option appears to be Hjulmand – who has long been linked with a switch to Old Trafford – with United scouts closely monitoring the Denmark international.

United are now stepping up their interest in Hjulmand and he is very much back on the club’s radar, according to new reports, amid the Ugarte stumbling block.

Hjulmand, a highly-rated 25-year-old, is believed to have a release clause worth £67.5m in his current deal at Portuguese side Sporting.

Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain who swapped Sporting to join the Red Devils himself, is a huge fan of Hjulmand.

‘I love Sporting’s midfield,’ he said. ‘I love [Hidemasa] Morita and [Morten] Hjulmand. ‘They’re two vital players in Sporting’s game, especially when they have to have more of the ball and be more tactically organised.’

Why has Manuel Ugarte’s move to Man Utd hit a stumbling block?

Manchester United and Paris-Saint Germain simply haven’t been able to agree a price tag, with the French club standing firm on their valuation of €70m.

It is also thought that the Red Devils need to offload some players before they bring in new faces, especially after just splashing out £52m on Leny Yoro.

‘Nothing is close yet, nothing is imminent yet,’ football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told Give Me Sport.

‘They (Man Utd) have an agreement with Manuel Ugarte on the contract, and he has the same agent as Leny Yoro. They are still working on the club side with Paris Saint-Germain, but there is nothing imminent yet on the deal.’