Man Utd Weigh £68m Midfield Alternatives Amid Baleba Concerns

Manchester United is actively seeking to strengthen its midfield before the end of the summer transfer window, having ruled out a move for Brighton's Carlos Baleba due to his excessive price tag of over £100 million. Instead, the club is considering alternatives such as Morten Hjulmand, a 26-year-old Danish midfielder with a £69 million release clause, and Adam Wharton, a younger prospect who has attracted interest from other clubs. Hjulmand, who previously played under United's coach Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP, is highly regarded for his passing ability and composure on the ball, making him a strong candidate despite the high cost. United faces a strategic decision between meeting Sporting's demands for Hjulmand now or preserving their budget to pursue Baleba in the future, with some hesitation among club officials about the financial implications. Additionally, United has made significant signings this summer, including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko, and is working on offloading players such as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho to facilitate new deals. Rival interest from Juventus for Hjulmand exists, but United appears to be in a stronger position to secure his signing if they decide to proceed.