Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is being encouraged to pursue Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, with Danish football icon Thomas Gravesen backing the move.
However, Sporting are reportedly unwilling to entertain offers below Hjulmand’s release clause, signaling they intend to hold firm during the summer transfer window.
Spurs have already kicked off the Frank era by securing Mathys Tel on a permanent deal after his loan spell from Bayern Munich.
Attention now appears to be shifting to strengthening the defensive midfield — an area seen as a weak link in the current squad.
The club is believed to be targeting a seasoned midfielder who can provide stability and mentorship to young talents like Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Pape Sarr.
Hjulmand, Sporting’s captain and a regular for the Denmark national team, is once again on Tottenham’s radar after being linked in previous windows.
At 25, with close to 300 senior appearances and a 6’1″ frame, Hjulmand brings both experience and physicality. Gravesen, a fellow Dane, is convinced he would be a smart addition to Spurs’ midfield rebuild.
He told Viaplay: “He is a captain of calibre. Frank was with [Christian] Norgaard for several years [at Brentford], and Hjulmand is an improved version and is even younger. That is why I think Frank’s first big purchase for Tottenham should be Hjulmand.”
Whether Thomas Frank and the Tottenham board act on Thomas Gravesen’s recommendation remains to be seen, but signing Morten Hjulmand won’t come cheap. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, any club eyeing the Sporting midfielder will have to dig deep.
Sporting are determined to keep hold of their midfield leader, especially with star striker Viktor Gyokeres already expected to leave this summer. As a result, the club has made it clear that only offers meeting Hjulmand’s full £68 million release clause will be considered.
Tottenham aren’t the only club keeping tabs on the Danish international — Manchester United could also enter the race later in the window as they look to strengthen their midfield.
Hjulmand previously played under manager Ruben Amorim at Sporting and admitted he was disappointed when their working relationship came to an end, hinting that he’s open to a new challenge.
“Many players wanted to stay at Sporting with Ruben Amorim because he is a great coach,” he said. “We feel disappointed with his departure.
“We were on a run of 11 consecutive wins and doing very well in the Champions League. Everything was very clear to everyone on the pitch. It was almost as if we were playing PlayStation. Everyone knew what they had to do. I told him in front of the other players that we were disappointed with his departure. We were counting on him.”
