Leon Goretzka sits at the center of Atlético Madrid’s midfield search, but the clearest live target is Morten Hjulmand. Atlético Madrid has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Sporting CP captain and is now expected to move toward an official offer in the coming weeks.
The reported contract is a five-year deal worth approximately €6 million per year. That gives Atlético Madrid a player already lined up on the salary side before the club even opens formal talks with Sporting CP.
Hjulmand and Atlético Madrid
Hjulmand has become Atlético Madrid’s primary midfield target this summer after the club tracked João Gomes as an alternative. Those talks stalled after complications involving Jorge Mendes, leaving Hjulmand as the clearer path.
He also brings captaincy experience at Sporting CP, which makes any deal more than a routine squad move. Atlético Madrid are not just chasing another midfielder; they are targeting a player already trusted to lead a side from the middle of the pitch.
€80 million and €45 million
The numbers are where the deal gets difficult. Hjulmand carries an €80 million release clause, but Sporting CP have signaled they could be persuaded to move at a fee closer to €45 million if a deal comes together quickly.
That gap is large enough to shape how Atlético Madrid approach the next step. A club that has already settled personal terms can still get stuck if the opening bid does not move Sporting CP toward its lower valuation.
Over the past year or so
Interest in Hjulmand has not started from nowhere. Over the past year or so, Manchester United, Everton, and Real Madrid have all been linked to him, which helps explain why Atlético Madrid moved early to line up terms before the market widened further.
For Sporting CP, the decision now sits between holding to the clause and taking a lower figure if the timing works in Atlético Madrid’s favor. For Hjulmand, the next change comes when the offer lands on Sporting CP’s side and the club has to decide whether €45 million is enough to start selling its captain.
