Inevitable exit! Sporting already eyeing Morten Hjulmand’s replacement | OneFootball

Hired in the summer of 2023, Morten Hjulmand, 26 years old, established himself from the very beginning as a sure bet. He became a key player in the midfield, displaying quality and maturity for other competitive levels, which early on fueled the belief that it would be difficult for Sporting to keep him for long. Nevertheless, the lions managed to keep him for a second season at Alvalade, although his departure next summer is seen as an inevitable scenario.

In this regard - and not for any reason related to the recent episode that kept him out of the game against Nacional - the green and white structure is already working on finding a successor for the captain. The need to strengthen the midfield has been identified, and planning for 2026/27 already includes significant changes.

During the winter market, the entry of a midfielder was considered, dependent on a potential departure of Hidemasa Morita, who is at the end of his contract and was in the last window where he could still generate financial return. However, the decision was to postpone the investment until the summer, considering Hjulmand's situation.

Thus, the lion's midfield is expected to undergo significant changes. Two departures are anticipated - Morten Hjulmand and Hidemasa Morita - which necessitates hiring suitable replacements and a significant market investment.

As for the remaining options, the bet on João Simões represents both present and future. The young Algarve native, 19 years old, is already one of the first choices for the midfield. Daniel Bragança is looking to consolidate his position after a long period of inactivity due to injury, while Giorgi Kochorashvili, signed last summer from Levante, continues to try to establish himself, potentially gaining more space or even being loaned out for more experience.

From the current group of five midfielders - Hjulmand, João Simões, Morita, Kochorashvili, and Daniel Bragança - two are expected to leave (the Dane and the Japanese), two are firm bets (the Portuguese) and one has an uncertain future (the Georgian). What is certain is that Sporting will have to enter the market to address the anticipated departures.

It is worth noting that interest in the lion's captain - who faces a complaint from Porto - has been ongoing since last summer and prompted a conversation between the midfielder and president Frederico Varandas at that time. It was agreed that he would stay until the end of the 2025/26 season, after which Sporting is open to negotiations. However, no sale commitment was made nor a specific value set, only an openness to negotiations for amounts around 50 million euros.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.