With the summer transfer window only a few months away, Manchester City continue to be linked with a host of players. One of those players is Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand. Portuguese publication A Bola has reported that City and Sporting CP have held talks over a potential summer City move for the Sporting captain. There is no doubting Morten Hjulmand’s quality as a midfielder. Hjulmand has proven his pedigree playing as a defensive midfielder for Sporting for some time now. However, there doesn’t seem to be a fit in the City squad for Hjulmand with the players currently in the City squad.
Morten Hjulmand is a quality midfielder in his own right, but a fit for him in the Manchester City midfield isn’t easy to find.
Throughout this season, Morten Hjulmand has operated as a defensive midfielder for Sporting CP. A strength of Hjulmand’s game is his ability to read the game when opponents have possession. This strength of the Danish midfielder allows him to position himself exceptionally well out of possession. Typically, Hjulmand plays as a number six in front of the Sporting defence. He is strong in a duel/challenge, and this forms the foundation of his game out of possession, along with his exceptional ability to read a game.
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In possession, Morten Hjulmand is a tidy player who is exceptional at retaining possession. He is a key player for Sporting CP, and his ability in possession helps them dictate matches. Also, Hjulmand dictates the play of a match very well and he can break the lines with his passing and he can create chances, and goals with his line-breaking passing. In 40 appearances for Sporting CP in all competitions this season, Hjulmand has contributed six assists. That is an exceptional number for a number six.
However, looking at where Morten Hjulmand could fit into the Manchester City squad, there doesn’t seem to be a place for him in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Rodri and Nico are the defensive midfielders in the City squad. As of right now, it seems unlikely that either player will depart City this summer. If that remains the case, there isn’t a clear role for Morten Hjulmand in the City squad. That puts any potential Manchester City move for the Danish midfielder in doubt in my opinion.
It may take a player or two to leave City for Hjulmand to fit into the City midfield.
The only way there could be a fit for Morten Hjulmand in the Manchester City midfield isn’t if players depart the club. City assistant manager Pep Lijnders has confirmed that Bernardo Silva will leave the club this summer. However, Hjulmand isn’t a midfielder who can replace Bernardo Silva. He is a different type of midfielder. If Rodri or Nico were to leave City this summer, which seems unlikely, perhaps that is where Hjulmand will fit into the City squad. Outside of that occurring, it doesn’t look realistic that City will sign another number six this summer.
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Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand has been named a potential transfer target for Manchester City this summer. There’s no doubting Hjulmand’s quality as a midfielder, nor his leadership qualities. However, on closer inspection, there isn’t an immediate fit into Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Danish midfielder, so perhaps any City move for Hjulmand is one that is being lined up as a contingency plan in case Nico or Rodri pursue a summer move away from Manchester City.
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