A younger version of Casemiro’. That is quite the compliment indeed, especially when bestowed upon a midfielder who might just take the Brazilian’s place at Manchester United.
His second season at Old Trafford may have been something of a disaster but, still, one of the most successful and decorated defensive midfielders of the 21st century will take some replacing.
And the ‘number six’ market is not exactly overloaded with options either.
Yes, there is Manuel Ugarte. But can Manchester United get the best out of a man who struggled at Paris Saint-Germain last term? Amadou Onana of Everton obviously has talent, but found himself out of Sean Dyche’s best XI at times recently.
For one former Man United defender, the answer to the Red Devils’ Casemiro problem may lie at Euro 2024.
Morten Hjulmand’s tournament may be best remembered for his long-range blockbuster against England – clipping Jordan Pickford’s post on it’s way in from nearly 30 yards – but Paul Parker has spotted a few other attributes which make the Denmark dynamo potentially the ideal addition to Erik ten Hag’s engine room.
Morten Hjulmand tipped for Manchester United move
“I think (his performances have) been crazy. I haven’t seen all the matches with him at Sporting (Lisbon), but I have seen some. And he has just completely dominated there,” Parker tells Spil X Sperten, Hjulmand leaving Lecce for the Portuguese capital in 2023.
He became captain in Serie A at the age of 22. So that shows a boy with great leadership. These are exactly the leadership qualities that Manchester United could use.
“When I look at him, I see in many ways a younger version of Casemiro. Manchester United could really use that. He is solid on the ball, he is strong in the duels, and then he will go through fire and water for his team-mates.”
Hjulmand, brought in to replace Fulham enforcer Joao Palhinha at Sporting, was particularly impressive during Denmark’s opening 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
A defensive midfielder in Ten Hag’s team must be as comfortable on the ball as he is without it. And Hjulmand displayed the sort of composure in possession that Casemiro frequently lacks, piercing the lines and progressing the play with a series of short, sharp forward passes.
While Hjulmand’s Denmark team-mate Christian Eriksen still feels likely to leave Man United this summer – his contract expiring in 2025 – the aggression and discipline offered by the 25-year-old in that deep-lying role could free up Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo to wreak even more havoc in the final third.
“Eriksen gets a completely different freedom in the national team than he does in Manchester United, and you can see now that he is still a class player,” adds Parker, a two-time Premier League champion under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s.
“I think that Hjulmand has been a big reason for releasing Eriksen, so that he can get further (up) the pitch for Denmark. He just hasn’t had the opportunity at Manchester United because they haven’t had any kind of balance.
“With a player like Hjulmand, who can dominate the midfield, he can have that freedom. I really hope that they sign him, and then Manchester United can get a Danish axis, which are players who always give 100 per cent.
“Hjulmand and (Rasmus) Hojlund are fighters. And so Eriksen can lie in the pocket between them. It will be really good, so I really hope so.”
Hjulmand has a £69 million release clause in his Sporting Lisbon contract.
Former Estadio Jose Alvalade talisman Bruno Fernandes has spoken openly about his admiration for the tough-tackling Scandinavian, while Hjulmand himself admits he is keen on a move to England.
