Man United transfer hunt takes new twist as midfielder move gets green light - on one condition

Sporting CP will only let Morten Hjulmand join Manchester United for the reported €80million (£67.3m) release clause in his contract, according to reports in Portugal.

Recent reports have suggested that the Denmark international is on United's transfer radar this summer. Erik ten Hag wants to strengthen his midfield before the 2024/25 campaign after already signing Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro.

The club are currently assessing their options with former loanee Sofyan Amrabat and Paris Saint-Germain star Manuel Ugarte on their watchlist. A move for Amrabat hasn't shown any signs of completion, and there is yet to be an agreement over a fee for Ugarte.

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Hjulmand has caught the eye of a number of top European clubs with his performances for Sporting CP and Denmark. He played 49 times for Sporting last term to help them win the Portuguese Premier League.

However, having joined Sporting last summer from Lecce on a five-year deal, United are set to face problems in bringing the Danish defensive midfielder to Old Trafford. According to Thursday's edition of Correio da Manha, a news outlet in Portugal, Sporting boss Ruben Amorim won't allow the 25-year-old to leave so easily.

It's claimed that Amorim has a handful of players who he views as 'untouchable' and Hjulmand is one of them. Reports around the club suggest only their release clause would allow them to leave.

That news means that United face paying close to, or more than, the £59million that Paris Saint-Germain are demanding for Ugarte. Whichever midfielder