10 months ago
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Manchester United youngster Facundo Pellistri has been offered to Sporting Lisbon in exchange for defensive midfielder Morten Hjulmand.
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Looking to return to their former glory, United intend to bolster their squad after enduring a desperately disappointing start to the campaign under head coach Erik ten Hag and central midfield is understood to be high up on the club’s list of priorities.
The arrival of billionaire part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given United supporters hope of a turnaround in fortunes – with the Red Devils languishing in eighth in the Premier League table – and work is underway to further overhaul Ten Hag’s misfiring side.
After spending a total of around £230m on reinforcements in the summer, a host of additional targets have been identified and Hjulmand is being mooted as a possible solution to United’s frustrations in the middle of the park.
The Sun claim United are willing to sacrifice one of their brightest talents, Pellistri, 22, in a swap deal for the 24-year-old Denmark international who has a hefty £69million release clause in his contract at Sporting.
However, Sporting are not entertaining the prospect of an exchange agreement involving Pellistri and are holding out for United to pay the amount in full for their prized possession.
Hjulmand, formerly of Admira Wacker and Lecce, has caught the eye in his debut season in Portugal, chipping in with a goal and an assist across 13 Premeira Liga starts.
The report states that United midfielder Christian Eriksen is a close friend and mentor of Hjulmand and could be key in luring his fellow countryman to the north-west.
It’s believed the highly rated Dane, once a target for Championship outfit Southampton, has been watched by United scouts in both the Portuguese top flight and in the Europa League this term.
United are currently without summer loan addition Sofyan Amrabat in midfield, but Ten Hag will no doubt be encouraged by the impending return of injured duo Casemiro and Mason Mount – both progressing well as they aim step up their rehabilitation over the coming weeks.
In the aftermath of United’s FA Cup victory over Wigan, Ten Hag talked up the possibility of the club bringing in new recruits before January transfer deadline.
‘We consider everything,’ the Dutchman told reporters.
‘So what are the best interests of the players and also the best interests for us, the team, for Manchester United.
‘So we’ll see how we progress during the window.’
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