- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Manchester United and Newcastle United sent scouts to watch Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday with both the Premier League giants paying close attention to midfielder Morten Hjulmand.
HITC understands that more than 20 clubs from all across Europe had scouts in attendance at the Estadio da Luz in midweek, Sporting defeating Lisbon neighbours Benfica 4-3 on aggregate to seal their spot in the final of the Taca de Portugal.
Morten Hjulmand scored for Ruben Amorim’s side in an enthralling 2-2 draw, and HITC have been told that the Denmark international is one of two Sporting players on Newcastle United’s radar along with centre-back Ousmane Diomande.
Hjulmand, the former Lecce captain, is more renowned for his defensive work. He was brought in to replace the now-Fulham ace Joao Palhinha in the Portuguese capital, after all. But with four goals and four assists in all competitions now, the rangy Hjulmand is obviously capable of making key contributions in the final third too.
We understand that Manchester United also watched Hjulmand as well as young defender Antonio Silva and teenage playmaker Joao Neves too.
United are huge admirers of Silva and Neves and have watched both players for more than 12-months, but Hjulmand is also as a player of interest to them.
United’s scout Sporting Lisbon duo vs Benfica
Hjulmand has a release clause of around £70 million release clause in his contract. Funnily enough, that is the same as the clause in Ousmane Diomande’s own deal, Newcastle also keeping tabs on one of the most exciting, most well-rounded central defenders on the continent.
HITC have been informed that Newcastle were in Lisbon to watch not only Hjulmand but Diomande too as Sporting followed up their 2-1 first-leg victory over Benfica with a hard-fought 2-2 draw in the second, Ruben Amorim’s side moving one big step closer to securing a domestic double.
“He’s one of those players who doesn’t make mistakes,” explains Ricardo Sousa, who worked with 20-year-old Diomande during a spell at CD Mafra (O Jogo). “Manchester City’s main scout called me (during Diomande’s time at Mafra). And, before that, someone from Arsenal had already spoken to the club.
“So the recent interest from a club like Newcastle doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
“Sporting, with all due respect, is just a stepping stone in Diomande’s career,” Sousa adds. “He will become one of the best central defenders in the world, there is no doubt about that. Sporting will sell him for 80 million euros, or very close to it.
“(Diomande) is good in the air, he knows how to explore spaces. He plays well on the right, in the centre and on the left. He’s got a good heading game. He can always improve, but he is strong in all aspects.
“He’ll be one of the best in the world.”
Eddie Howe’s side suffering defensive crisis
Newcastle’s interest in Diomande comes at a time in which so many of Eddie Howe’s defenders are struggling with injury. After Sven Botman was ruled out for up to nine months with an ACL tear, Jamaal Lascelles suffered the same fate during Saturday’s 4-3 victory over West Ham United.
HITC reported back in January that Newcastle had also watched Amorim’s free-scoring centre-forward Viktor Gyokeres. Now, it appears that the number of Sporting players under consideration by The Magpies has tripled.
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