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 first moment as a smart investment. He became a key player in the midfield, displaying quality and maturity for higher 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 retain 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 the ground to find a successor for the captain. The need to strengthen the midfield is identified, and the planning for 2026/27 already includes significant changes.

In the winter market, the entry of a midfielder was considered, dependent on a possible 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 Lions' midfield sector is expected to undergo profound changes. Two departures are anticipated - Morten Hjulmand and Hidemasa Morita - which requires hiring suitable replacements and significant investment in the market.

As for the remaining options, the investment in 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 seeks 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 to gain 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 investments (the Portuguese) and one has an open future (the Georgian). It is certain that Sporting will have to go to the market to fill the anticipated departures.

It is worth remembering that the interest in the Lions' captain - who faces a complaint from Porto - has been ongoing since last summer and prompted, at that time, a conversation between the midfielder and president Frederico Varandas. It was established that he would stay until the end of the 2025/26 season, after which Sporting is open to negotiations. However, no commitment to sell 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.