Premier League
Real Madrid is starting to make moves ahead of the next transfer market, and José Mourinho has already put two very specific names on the table to strengthen the midfield. The Portuguese coach aims to enhance competitiveness in the center of the field, believing that the team needs profiles capable of maintaining the physical pace, improving pressure, and adding character in high-demand matches. The players are Morten Hjulmand and Mateus Fernandes, according to the latest Real Madrid rumors.
The two footballers that the coach favors are Morten Hjulmand and Mateus Fernandes. They both share a football nationality on Mourinho's radar, but they represent very different operations. The first is an established reality at Sporting de Portugal. The second, a promising player with huge potential who belongs to West Ham, a club whose price could increase despite the English team's relegation.
Mourinho seeks more strength and criteria in the midfield: Morten Hjulmand and Mateus Fernandes, the top choices
José Mourinho is clear that Real Madrid needs to reinforce the center of the field with players of great versatility. The Portuguese coach is not just looking for technical players but for pieces with character, intensity, and the ability to compete in high-pressure scenarios. Therefore, his preferences lean towards profiles with a mix of physicality, leadership, and good ball control.
Real Madrid boasts midfielders with immense talent, but Mourinho understands that the season demands variations. He wants players who can win duels, close spaces, press forward, and support the team when matches become intense.
In this context, Hjulmand and Mateus Fernandes emerge as two names that meet different needs but fit into the competitive concept the coach seeks to establish.
The white sports management already knows the coach's preferences. Now, they will have to consider how far they are willing to go for each of them, as neither of the two operations seems financially straightforward.
Morten Hjulmand is the most seasoned name on the list. The Danish midfielder has become a key figure at Sporting de Portugal, where he serves as captain and leader on the field.
His growth in Lisbon has not gone unnoticed, and several top European clubs have been keeping an eye on him for some time.
Atlético de Madrid is also closely monitoring his situation. The red and white club has long been seeking a midfielder with hierarchy, defensive ability, and good ball distribution, and Hjulmand fits perfectly into that profile.
This competition could complicate Real Madrid's plans, although Mourinho's involvement in the operation could be a decisive factor if the white club decides to move forward.
The player's price would be around 50 million euros, a significant but manageable amount for a player who is ready to make the leap to a big club. Hjulmand is not an experimental bet. He is a midfielder with experience, character, and a personality that Mourinho particularly admires.
His arrival would allow Real Madrid to achieve balance. He is a player capable of protecting the defense, organizing the team, and offering a clean outlet when under pressure. He may not have the media spotlight of other midfielders, but he possesses many qualities that coaches value in big matches.

The second player on the table is Mateus Fernandes, one of the Portuguese talents generating significant interest in the market. The midfielder belongs to West Ham, a team that suffered relegation this season, a situation that could pave the way for a departure during the summer.
However, the major issue is his price. Like many players from English clubs, his valuation is significantly inflated. Despite West Ham's relegation, the operation could reach figures close to 100 million euros, a sum that requires Real Madrid to think very carefully.
Mateus Fernandes is admired for his potential. He possesses technical quality, good ball control, attacking prowess, and room for growth. He is a more offensive and creative player than Hjulmand, with the ability to appear in spaces and impact matches through his play. Mourinho sees him as a present and future investment, though his price makes it a much more delicate operation.
Real Madrid knows that engaging in negotiations with an English club is rarely straightforward. Even in a situation of relegation, figures tend to soar, and Premier League teams are not accustomed to selling cheaply. Therefore, while Mateus Fernandes is of interest, his signing will heavily depend on the conditions set by West Ham.
The comparison between both players shows that Real Madrid is considering two very distinct scenarios. Hjulmand would be a more economically and sportively logical addition. He would cost around half of what Mateus Fernandes would and would come with a more defined role: providing balance, leadership, and consistency.
On the other hand, Mateus Fernandes would represent a riskier bet. His talent is undeniable, but paying close to 100 million euros for a player coming from West Ham's relegation sparks debate. The white club would need to be fully convinced that his potential justifies such a sizeable investment.
Mourinho has made it clear that he wants reinforcements in that area of the field. The Portuguese believes that Real Madrid needs more legs, internal competition, and more options to face a season full of matches. Hjulmand and Mateus Fernandes are his top preferences, although their market situations are quite different.
The former seems like a more realistic opportunity. The latter is a future-oriented bet with a star-player price tag. In any case, Mourinho's message has been sent: Real Madrid needs to strengthen its midfield, and the Portuguese coach wants the sports management to focus directly on two players he knows very well.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Dos centrocampistas que gustan a José Mourinho
