Lecce rejected an £11 million bid from the Premier League for reported Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Southampton target Morten Hjulmand during the January transfer window, the Serie A club’s president tells Rai GR Parlamento.
During their first season back in the big time, Lecce are 13th, seven points clear of the relegation zone, and well-placed to secure survival well ahead of schedule. But that does not mean I Giallorossi are taking their top-flight status for granted.
Lecce received an eight-figure bid for club captain Hjulmand last month. But, according to Saverio Sticchi Damiani, the former Copenhagen enforcer was never going anywhere mid-season. Not when Lecce can still be dragged back into the mire.
Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Southampton like Morten Hjulmand
“Besides being our captain, he is a source of pride,” says the Lecce president.
“He was almost born in 2000, and such a young captain is a strong signal. (Director Pantaleo) Corvino brought him in Admira Wacker, where he didn’t even play as a starter.
“In January, we received an offer of 13 million (euros) from the Premier League. But we have important objectives. It is a luxury that we can afford (to keep Hjulmand) thanks to our politics. The boy is happy.”
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Lecce value Hjulmand closer to £18 million. The former Denmark U21 international is reportedly on the radar of Leeds, Nottingham Forest and a Southampton side who reached an agreement on Tuesday to make former Elland Road boss Jesse Marsch their third head coach of the current campaign (The Guardian).
Hjulmand’s physicality and aggression, meanwhile, has some presuming he would fit in rather well in the Premier League. Especially at a club renowned for their high-pressing style.
“He’s a really, really professional player,” says fellow Dane Mikkel Damsgaard, now at Brentford (TV2). “He always works insanely hard, and I know he has taken some really big steps at Lecce.
“He has done absolutely fantastic. I definitely believe that he could well become a long-term national team player.”
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