Manchester United may be forced to concede defeat in the pursuit of their top two midfield targets this summer, reports in Portugal claim.
The Red Devils are attempting to pull off a blockbuster swoop for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but the Seagulls’ asking price of up to £120million may make his signing unfeasible.
Reports this week have claimed that Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, once a favourite of Amorim’s during his time in the Portuguese capital and valued at around £50m, has been identified as an alternative.
Amorim is a strong admirer of the midfielder and has previously lauded his ‘monster mentality’ and leadership qualities, having appointed him skipper.
But it has now been claimed that the 26-year-old Denmark international will be nigh on impossible to acquire this summer thanks to a combination of his expiring release clause and the Portuguese champions’ unwillingness to sell another first team star in the window.
According to Record, the £68m (€80m) release clause in the midfielder’s contract expired on June 15 and Sporting, whose sale of star striker Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal was fraught, have decided to close the door on any further exits.
Manchester United have reportedly missed the chance to activate Morten Hjulmand’s release clause
The Red Devils are working on a deal to sign Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but he is likely to cost more than £100m
The Red Devils have significantly bolstered Amorim ‘s attack this summer with the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko for fees of £62.5million, £71m and £74m respectively.
United have now turned their attention to the middle of park, with Brighton ‘s star midfielder Baleba, 21, understood to be the primary target.
Baleba helped Brighton finish eighth in the Premier League last season, just five points off fifth-placed Newcastle, who secured Champions League football.
The Seagulls, who have made a habit of selling the likes of Joao Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for huge profits, are less keen to sell Baleba this summer given he had an impressive season.
According to The Athletic, a move for the youngster is ‘improbable’ unless United are able to secure a series of lucrative sales before the window closes at the start of next month.
Only Liverpool and Chelsea can boast a higher spend among the Premier League’s money-spinning corridors this summer.
One Manchester United fan has set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise funds for a Baleba bid, though in four days it had only raised £501 of its £120m target.
In defensive midfield, United currently have Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer as options, while Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo can also be deployed in the centre of the park in their 3-4-3 formation.
