EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd consider Sporting CP midfielder as PSG maintain Ugarte price

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 24 Jul 2024 22:16 BST
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Morten Hjulmand of Sporting Lisbon is under consideration by Manchester United, FootballTransfers has been told.

Club sources at Paris Saint-Germain inform us that no offers or proposals have been made for Manuel Ugarte despite reports to the contrary, and ultimately the Premier League giants are currently unwilling to match their €70 million asking price.

Hjulmand is thought to be less aggressive than Ugarte and there is an appreciation of his good positional discipline and his experience working in a possession-based side. Another less expensive option is Youssouf Fofana. Monaco have told Man Utd that they need to pay €35m to sign him and the Frenchman is being seriously looked at.

Fiorentina are doing a tour of England for preseason and we are told that Sofyan Amrabat won’t be involved in their three matches. There are still no proposals for the midfielder and there is interest from other clubs.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Man Utd are exploring options in case Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaves Old Trafford. Vanderson, also of Monaco, and Lutsharel Geertruida of Feyenoord are names they admire. But Erik ten Hag has his eyes on Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich. The defender is another player the Dutchman feels would work in his tactical system and he would only cost €20m.

Antonio Silva returns as option

We understand that Antonio Silva has emerged as a possibility for Man Utd as the club struggles to find value in their search for a central defender, even though a move is considered unlikely.

Agent Jorge Mendes remains looking to get Silva a move from Benfica, and there are some among Man Utd’s recruitment who admire the fact that he can play both sides of defence and typically on the left, where he can deputise for Lisandro Martinez. Benfica have previously demanded the defender's €100m release clause to be met in full but it's believed it would now be considerably below that.

Bayern Munich have rejected all verbal offers for Matthijs de Ligt, and at this point, Man Utd are not prepared to meet their valuation of €50 million. There have been talks over a payment structure but no middle ground has been found.

READ MORE: 10 players who could join Man Utd this summer

Official bids made for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite - at €40 million plus add-ons and €53m plus €7m in add-ons - have also been turned down.

As reported previously, the major target is still Branthwaite. He is the player the club has admired since last summer and talks between the player’s side and the Red Devils have gone on throughout the year, with a contract being verbally agreed.

Club sources at Everton inform us that their summer plans are not affected by the takeover and they will only consider significant offers.

There still remains an idea that a deal can be struck for the 22-year-old but Man Utd must sell more players to be able to afford the youngster. Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay, Antony, and Jadon Sancho are all available for sale. However, former captain Maguire could stay as he offers dressing room presence and experience for the younger defenders.