Sporting have no plans to sell Morten Hjulmand in January. Reports from England link the midfielder with Manchester United, but A Bola state that the Lisbon club remain calm and confident. 

They trust their captain and a verbal agreement with president Frederico Varandas to stay until the end of the season. Only then will a transfer be discussed.

According to A Bola, Sporting are holding tight to their leader. The club will not negotiate, even for his £68m release clause (€80m).

That position has not changed since the summer, when they rejected interest from England and Italy. Hjulmand plays a central role in the team’s balance, and his leadership is seen as essential to their title challenge.

Manchester United and City circle

Reports in England claim Manchester United could move earlier than rivals Manchester City. Ruben Amorim, now United manager, knows Hjulmand well from their time at Sporting.

He brought the Dane to Lisbon, made him captain and built the team around him. Across Manchester, City sporting director Hugo Viana (also formerly of Sporting) is another admirer of the midfielder.

A Bola stressed that any January move would be highly...