Everton Eye Atletico Madrid Target In Bold Summer Midfield Move: Should Moyes Really Press Hard? | OneFootball

Everton are reportedly keeping a close eye on Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand ahead of the summer transfer window, with Portuguese newspaper A Bola, via Sport Witness, confirming the Toffees have the Dane firmly in their sights. The report, surfaced via Sport Witness, signals fresh and new interest from Everton, a club actively rebuilding under David Moyes following a disappointing end to the Premier League season.

Everton Join Race For Sporting Star Amid Atletico Madrid Rivalry

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have been named as potential destinations, but A Bola noted that Everton has the Dane in its sights as well. According to Correio da Manha, Hjulmand reached an agreement with Sporting to facilitate his departure this summer, with interested parties able to land him for approximately £34.5m, significantly below his €80m release clause. That represents a genuinely attractive price for a midfielder of his standing across European football.

Everton Face Steep Competition From Spanish Giants

Manchester United and Arsenal have also entered the conversation, with the Gunners reportedly asking Sporting about Hjulmand directly when the two sides met in the Champions League quarter-finals. The list of admirers is long and formidable. If it came down to a direct choice between Everton and Atletico Madrid, Hjulmand would prefer to move to Spain, which is hardly surprising given Diego Simeone’s side can offer Champions League football.

The Dane has made no secret of his ambitions. Last summer Juventus were strongly linked, and this window Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United and now Atletico have all registered serious interest. Everton joining that conversation is either a sign of genuine ambition or a case of optimistic early groundwork.

Moyes Must Act Smart, Not Recklessly, For Everton

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Referee Francois Letexier interacts with Morten Hjulmand of Sporting Clube de Portugal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Arsenal Stadium on April 15, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

David Moyes deserves credit for rebuilding Everton into a cohesive side, but this particular chase feels like a stretch. Everton’s midfield recruitment this summer already has momentum, with Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney and Udinese’s Arthur Atta both monitored as the club seeks greater depth and dynamism. Those targets are realistic, affordable, and suited to Moyes’ direct style of building from the base.

Hjulmand is a different animal entirely. He captains Sporting, holds Champions League pedigree, and has spent two years being coveted by clubs with far greater pull than Everton. James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drove Everton’s midfield last season, with further options including Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl and Carlos Alcaraz at Moyes’ disposal. The engine room is not threadbare.

Moyes should focus the budget on winnable transfers. Everton pursuing a player who openly prefers Atletico Madrid is a gamble that burns time, resources and goodwill. The smarter path this summer is depth, pace and hunger rather than chasing a big name who sees the Toffees as a fallback. That is how sustainable progress gets built at Everton.