According to A Bola, Manchester City have started informal talks with Sporting CP regarding the possible signing of 26-year-old captain Morten Hjurmand.
But the Premier League giants are not alone in their pursuit.
The Danish international’s outstanding performances have also attracted serious interest from Manchester United and Serie A giants Juventus over the years, setting the stage for an intense three-way bidding war.
Man City have the upper hand in race to sign midfielder
Manchester City’s proactive approach is largely driven by familiar faces on the board.
City’s sporting director Hugo Viana was originally the person behind bringing Yurmand to Lisbon from Lecce in 2023, and he is reportedly keen to reunite with the midfielder at the Etihad Stadium.
From a tactical point of view, the move makes perfect sense for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City are evaluating the structure of their long-term engine room, so bringing in a good player who is tactically intelligent and has Hjormand’s physical ability would provide important top-tier cover for Rodri.
Financial details regarding the contract with Yurmand
Yurmand’s current contract is protected by a staggering €80m release clause, but Sporting CP’s management are reportedly willing to negotiate a more realistic compromise in the range of €40m to €50m (£34m to £42m).
This slightly lower valuation leaves the door wide open to rival suitors.
Man United have tracked the 26-year-old extensively over the past year, making a preliminary bid in the past window, and have the undeniable financial muscle needed to meet Sporting’s asking price to continue their midfield rebuild.
Meanwhile, Juventus are still desperate to bring former Lecce players back to Italy to strengthen their system.
However, the Turin club’s financial constraints may make it difficult for them to match the spending power of the Premier League without first orchestrating a major, high-profile sale to make ends meet.
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