AC Milan are not in negotiations for Sporting Lisbon's Morten Hjulmand. The Danish midfielder, former captain under Ruben Amorim, is not part of the Rossoneri's plans for the defensive role. The AC Milan management has clarified the priority: center forward and right offensive winger with reversed foot.
Hjulmand's financial valuation for the role would be too high, relegating him to a secondary objective. it sources, Milan have already identified two important names for the offensive department: the Belgian Charles De Ketelaere, fresh from a loan at the Belgian club Anderlecht, and the English Anthony Gordon, looking for redemption after two disappointing seasons at Newcastle. Both profiles would cost between 30 and 40 million, a range that Milan seems willing to pay to solve the deficiencies in attack.
Sources close to the club told A Bola that Hjulmand's profile does not meet the immediate needs of the squad led by Stefano Pioli. The 25-year-old midfielder ended the first part of the season with 4 goals and 3 assists in 15 appearances in Liga Portugal, but his propensity to play as a left midfielder in a 3-4-3 does not align with the Rossoneri's 4-2-3-1. Furthermore, Milan already has players with similar characteristics in their squad: Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunić, both capable of covering the midfield role, make Hjulmand less indispensable.
Indirect confirmation also comes from rumors on the market: Milan are working on more urgent solutions, leaving Hjulmand in the background despite his technical value. The farewell of Alexis Saelemaekers, sold to Bologna in January, forced the management to look for a replacement for the right winger role, where the club has more evident room for improvement. The center forward position also remains critical following the departure of Olivier Giroud, with only Divock Origi filling the role without guaranteeing continuity.
The tactical analysis highlights how Milan are trying to fill specific gaps in their game system. The absence of a powerful center forward and a dynamic right winger limited the team's offensive productivity, with Pioli forced to improvise solutions along the way. Hjulmand, despite being a quality player, does not solve these immediate deficiencies, on the contrary, his presence could create overcrowding in an already well-stocked midfield.
The choice to focus on De Ketelaere and Gordon reflects a strategy aimed at strengthening the attacking phase, where Milan showed greater difficulties in the first half of the season. Another aspect to consider is the financial management of the club. Milan, despite being willing to invest between 30 and 40 million for offensive profiles, must balance expenses with income, especially after the sale of Saelemaekers.
Hjulmand, with a similar valuation, would represent a risky investment in an already filled role, without guaranteeing an immediate impact. The Rossoneri management seems to prefer a pragmatic approach, focusing on players who can make a difference straight away, rather than long-term purchases. “It is not a purchase we are considering at the moment,” an anonymous source told A Bola.
The priority remains to complete the squad with offensive profiles, where the club has more evident room for improvement. The same source underlined that Milan is monitoring the market until the last available day, but Hjulmand is not among the concrete options. The Rossoneri management seems to prefer more flexible solutions, such as the aforementioned De Ketelaere, who can adapt both as an attacking midfielder and as a second striker.
What changes for Milan: the Rossoneri's transfer strategy shifts to offensive roles, but the squad remains incomplete under Amorim. Hjulmand remains a name in the background, with no concrete negotiations underway. Milan also has to deal with competition from other European clubs for profiles such as De Ketelaere and Gordon, who could end up elsewhere if the club does not accelerate in the next few days.
The winter window, which closes on January 31, could hold surprises, but for now there is no room for the Dane. What will happen in the next few days: the club could accelerate on a center forward or right winger by the end of the month. Negotiations for De Ketelaere are at an advanced stage, while for Gordon, Milan will have to deal with Newcastle, which is asking for at least 40 million.
Hjulmand remains a remote option, but the management does not rule out surprises until the last available day. The situation is fluid, and Milan could change course if negotiations for offensive profiles were to stall. Read at MilanNews24
Why this matters
Milan closes the door on Hjulmand, but the Rossoneri's transfer strategy shifts to more urgent roles. The indirect confirmation of a squad still to be completed under Pioli, with offensive priorities that leave the Danish midfielder in the background despite his technical value in Sporting. The Rossoneri management, forced to chase prestigious names to resolve the deficiencies in attack, risks seeing profiles such as De Ketelaere and Gordon slip away due to European competition, while Hjulmand remains a fallback option with no concrete possibility of landing in Milan.
Frequently asked
Why aren't Milan interested in Morten Hjulmand?
The Rossoneri management is focusing on a center forward and right attacking winger. Hjulmand, despite being a good defensive player, is not part of the immediate plans for economic evaluation and tactical role, as well as not having space in the squad for profiles similar to Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunić.
What are Milan's transfer priorities?
Center forward and right offensive winger with inverted foot. The club is working on offensive profiles such as Charles De Ketelaere and Anthony Gordon, both of whom are targeted to solve the deficiencies in attack.
Is Hjulmand still in AC Milan's sights?
There are no ongoing negotiations. The Danish midfielder remains a secondary target, with no concrete possibility of landing in Milan, at least until the winter window closes.
Who is Ruben Amorim and why is he mentioned?
Ruben Amorim is the coach of Sporting Lisbon, a club where Hjulmand was captain. His tactical management has made the Dane a prominent profile in Sporting, but does not align with Pioli's system.
When does the winter transfer window expire?
The winter transfer window closes on January 31st. Milan could accelerate on other profiles by that date, leaving Hjulmand in the background.
