Juventus' interest in Hjulmand confirmed, citing him as a natural-born leader...
Juventus and Sporting Negotiate Transfer of Morten Hjulmand
Juventus and Sporting are in negotiations over the transfer of Morten Hjulmand, with the Italian club reportedly agreeing personal terms with the Danish player. Hjulmand, who is currently the captain of Sporting, is keen to join Juventus this summer, seen as a replacement for Douglas Luiz, who is expected to leave Juventus.
The negotiations between the clubs have hit a sticking point over the transfer fee. Sporting values Hjulmand with a release clause around €80 million, while Juventus aims to complete the deal for approximately €40 million. To bridge this gap, Juventus is proposing a swap deal offering both Douglas Luiz and Arthur Melo to Sporting as part of the deal to lower the cash outlay needed.
Douglas Luiz, who is no longer in Juventus coach Igor Tudor’s plans and has refused to attend pre-season training, is linked with moves to Premier League clubs and could be used practically as a makeweight in the deal. Juventus must first finalize Luiz's departure before completing Hjulmand's signing, indicating an expected quid pro quo exchange of Luiz (and possibly Arthur) for Hjulmand.
Juventus' general director, Damien Comolli, will return to the negotiating table with Sporting. Hjulmand joined Sporting in the 2023/24 season from Lecce for a fee of 19.5 million euros. Pantaleo Corvino, the sporting director of Lecce, believes Hjulmand would be a good choice for Juventus, having discovered the player and making this statement in an interview with TuttoSport.
Corvino, who needed a playmaker to put in front of the defense, believed Hjulmand would not disappoint. Hjulmand has played a total of 97 games for Sporting, scoring 7 goals and assisting 6 others. Juventus aim to strengthen their central core with Hjulmand as a leader, with his leadership qualities also being valued by Juventus' management.
Previously, Juventus had focused on negotiations with FC Porto for Alberto Costa and João Maria. However, with the current negotiations with Sporting, it seems Juventus have shifted their attention to Hjulmand as a potential signing. The reported reference price for any potential discussion about Morten Hjulmand is 60 million euros.
In summary, Juventus aims to strengthen their midfield with the Danish player by effectively exchanging Douglas Luiz (and potentially Arthur Melo) to Sporting as part of a transfer package. The sale of Franco Israel to Torino for 4.5 million euros is a factor in the normalization of relations between the two clubs, paving the way for potential deals such as the transfer of Hjulmand.
Juventus, a club known for its involvement in European-leagues, is seeking to acquire the services of Morten Hjulmand, the captain of Sporting, with the Premier League potentially entering the picture through the potential departure of Douglas Luiz. The club's general director, Damien Comolli, is returning to the negotiating table with Sporting, aiming to bridge the gap in transfer fees, with reports suggesting a proposed swap deal involving Luiz and Arthur Melo to lower the cash outlay needed.
