Manchester United Seeks Midfield Alternative Morten Hjulmand with Arsenal Tattoo

Manchester United are actively seeking a midfielder before the summer transfer window closes, having ended their pursuit of Brighton's Carlos Baleba due to his high asking price exceeding £100 million. As an alternative, United are considering Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand, a Danish defensive midfielder who has a strong relationship with United manager Ruben Amorim from their time together at Sporting. Despite Hjulmand being a promising target with an estimated transfer value around £50 million, negotiations could be complicated by Sporting's reluctance to sell key players this summer. Additionally, Hjulmand's tattoo of Arsenal's crest, inspired by his father's support and his admiration for former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, may pose a cultural challenge among United's fanbase given the fierce rivalry between the clubs. Other midfield targets include Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, though no formal advances have been made yet. United have already invested over £200 million in attacking players this summer and may not fill the midfield position before the window closes.