Sporting: The Reasons Why Rúben Amorim Isn't Chasing Hjulmand

No sooner had Rúben Amorim been officially unveiled as AC Milan's new manager, signing a two-year deal with an option for a third, than Italian media began buzzing with rumors that the coach had already placed Morten Hjulmand on his transfer wishlist. It's been widely known that the Dane, who turns 27 tomorrow, has had a tacit agreement since last season – when Juventus showed strong interest – to leave for a fee below his €80M release clause.

However, according to A BOLA's sources, neither Sporting CP nor the player or his representatives have received any approach from the Rossoneri. The reason for this current lack of interest from the San Siro club – at least for now – is that even for a reduced fee, the Lions are demanding between €40M and €50M to release the player.

This is a sum that AC Milan, especially without Champions League football in 2026/27, is currently unwilling to spend on a defensive midfielder. The club has more pressing gaps to fill, particularly on the wings – Amorim is looking for a left-footed player capable of operating on the right – and in attack. This is due to the meager offensive output of their center-forwards in 2025/26: Santiago Giménez scored only one goal, Fullkrug also failed to impress, and Nkunku was the most prominent with eight successful strikes. But Amorim needs more, especially since one of the team's main goal scorers in 2025/26 was Portuguese winger Rafael Leão, who is reportedly on his way to other clubs…

Thus, the Italian market is becoming increasingly narrow for Hjulmand, who previously excelled in Italy with Lecce, where Sporting recruited him in the summer of 2023. This is because, as A BOLA reported at the time, Juventus also removed him from their priorities due to financial constraints and to avoid a potential clash of egos between the (still) number 42, a strong personality, and the Vecchia Signora captain, Manuel Locatelli. From this perspective, unless an unexpected market move occurs, the only Italian clubs with the financial capacity to pursue Hjulmand would be Inter or Napoli.

However, while the Italian avenue may be narrowing, the Premier League route remains very much active. There's a possibility of the Dane entering the radar of Arsenal – fulfilling a childhood dream of playing for the Gunners – or Manchester City, whose sporting director Hugo Viana is deeply familiar with (and appreciative of) his qualities.