Man Utd make contact with second Sporting player after attempting to hijack Viktor Gyokeres deal in double transfer swoop

Manchester United have reportedly made contact with a second Sporting CP player after they attempted to hijack Arsenal's deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

Although Arsenal have agreed an initial £55 million fee for Gyokeres, the clubs are still negotiating over the structure of the add-ons.

With the deal not yet finalised, there were reports that United boss Ruben Amorim would attempt to bring his former striker to Old Trafford.

According to Portuguese outlet SIC Noticias, Manchester United are very close to an agreement with Sporting for Gyokeres.

They said there is a similar deal to the one negotiated by Arsenal.

But journalists within England have dismissed those claims, insisting that Arsenal are expected to sign the striker.

United may yet sign a player from Sporting CP this summer after a report from A Bola emerged linking them to Morten Hjulmund.

They claim that Juventus are also interested in the Danish midfielder and enquired about his signature for a fee between €30 million and €40 million.

But Sporting's executives want a fee closer to his €80 million release clause, which was too much for the Italian giants.

The report suggests Hjulmund is also the subject of interest from Old Trafford but it remains to be seen whether there will be a formal approach for the midfielder.

Morten Hjulmand in action for Sporting. (Image: ANP / Contributor via Getty Images)

Do United need Hjulmund?

He could be a valuable addition to United's midfield having previously worked under Amorim in Portugal.

The 26-year-old is an effective ball winner and would offer a different profile to captain Bruno Fernandes in the centre of United's midfield.

After United's drab goalless draw against Leeds in pre-season on Saturday, Amorim spoke about the need for United to improve in midfield.

He said: “We lack pace, especially in the middle of the park, and you can feel it, it makes progressing the ball difficult. But we did create chances.

"There’s still a lot to do, but it was our first test against a Premier League side, using two different teams, so it was a good challenge.”

“As a group, we have a lot to improve, the speed of play, the details. But we will get better.”

Viktor Gyokeres and Hjulmand are players Ruben Amorim rates highly. (Image: Gualter Fatia / Contributor via Getty Images)

United have already signed Matheus Cunha this window and are on the cusp of landing Bryan Mbeumo but they remain interested in a striker, with Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson under consideration.

A midfielder to complement Fernandes has also been rumoured, with Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo all struggling at times last season.

However, after significant outlays on Cunha and Mbeumo, United will now have to turn their attentions to selling players in order to reinvest.

A deal for Hjulmund would only be realistic if they receive significant fees in the coming weeks.