Arsenal are exploring a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand as an alternative to Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, with Sporting having rejected an offer from Atletico Madrid. The 27-year-old Danish midfielder is a childhood Arsenal fan and has a tattoo of the club's crest on his shoulder.
Sporting reject Atletico bid, Arsenal poised to act
Sporting president Frederico Varandas confirmed that the club turned down an approach from Atletico Madrid, stating: "We received an offer from Atletico Madrid, which we rejected. It's a long way from the value we want. We have established a fair value, appropriate for his age, his position and the years he has spent at Sporting. Both the player and his agents know that value. Anything below it and the player stays."
Reports suggest Sporting may accept around £43 million (€50 million), though Hjulmand's release clause is set at €80 million (£69 million). The Premier League champions previously negotiated with Sporting last year to sign Viktor Gyokeres.
Hjulmand's Arsenal connection and midfield need
Hjulmand is keen on a Premier League move, and Arsenal represents a dream destination. He grew up with posters of Patrick Vieira and has a Gunners crest tattoo. Mikel Arteta's side are looking to bolster midfield options behind Declan Rice, with Martin Zubimendi already recruited last season. Uncertainty surrounds Christian Norgaard's future, while Myles Lewis-Skelly has shifted into midfield.
Attacking targets also on Arteta's radar
Arsenal are also prioritising attacking reinforcements, with Atletico's Julian Alvarez identified as a target, though he prefers Barcelona. Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers are alternatives, with Aston Villa demanding upwards of £130 million for Rogers. The market for attacking playmakers has been inflated by recent cross-Premier League transfers such as Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson.
