標籤: promise

Arsenal’s midfield plans for the summer are already taking shape behind the scenes. The club is expected to revisit many of the names they tracked last year.

One of them is Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand.

Hjulmand’s role and numbers

Morten Hjulmand’s importance to Sporting explains both the interest and plans for his exit.

Since arriving from Lecce in 2023, he has become one of the central figures in the team and now wears the captain’s armband. His role is built on control, defensive work and leadership.

In terms of output also, he has contributed continuously this season. In all competitions in 2025/26, Hjulmand made approximately 41 appearances, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists.

FootyStats data from the 2025/26 season shows that he averages around 2.8 tackles and 2.0 interceptions per 90 minutes. Furthermore, he makes around 6.6 ball recoveries per match. These numbers highlight his role as the primary shield in front of the defense.

He also contributes to the structure in possession. Hjulmand is averaging over 60 passes per game and passing accuracy is over 85%. Furthermore, he makes approximately 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes. This helps maintain the pace of the game and the link phases.

This combination makes him a reliable presence rather than a high-variance one. This is something that Arsenal have often prioritized in their midfield formation.

a familiar profile

The Danish midfielder has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time. He fits the club’s values ​​– disciplined, positionally strong and capable of leading the team. This gives others a chance to play ahead of him.

There is also a personal layer to it. Hjulmand is a known Arsenal fan and even has a tattoo related to the club, something that has been noted before When his name came up in transfer discussions.

Meanwhile, Sporting is a club that Arsenal’s recruitment staff are keeping a close eye on, as reported record. Portuguese sides regularly develop midfielders who are tactically mature and ready for top level football. This keeps their key players in constant focus of the Premier League.

Against that backdrop, there is now clear hope in Portugal that Hjulmand can move on this summer – and at a price that will change the conversation.

Exit path opens at €40m

As we covered earlier this yearSporting are already preparing for life after Morten Hjulmand.

There is an understanding that if an offer of around €40m (£34m) is received the midfielder will be allowed to leave at the end of the season. record They say. The figure is well below his €80m (£69m) release clause. This effectively serves as a realistic market entry point.

The expectation within is that he will go. Sporting has already begun to identify replacements, with plans to sign a new defensive midfielder capable of stepping straight into the team.

They are also considering sweeping midfield changes. The club is planning to bring in additional central players, anticipate departures and reshape the balance of the squad ahead of next season.

What does this mean for Arsenal

The situation is now clearer than ever for Arsenal. Hjulmand is not just a watchable player. He’s someone who could realistically be available at a set price point this summer.

The €40 million (£34 million) figure puts him within reach of several Premier League clubs, including the Gunners.

There is no indication of further talks at this stage. The midfielder is focused on finishing the season with Sporting and has not yet opened the door to negotiations. Still, the situation still remains the same.

Arsenal are considering midfield options. Hjulmand fits the strategic profile. Has a known personal connection with the club. And Sporting appears ready to sell on the right terms.

That combination is usually enough to keep the transfer story active – and that combination looks to evolve as the window approaches.

Washington D.C. – While his season is over, and his return to the basketball court is still a long way off, Jimmy Butler remains in good spirits as he begins the road to recovery. The Golden State Warriors star spoke to the media for the first time since suffering a season-ending ACL injury in his right knee in late January.

“It feels like I had ACL surgery five weeks ago,” Butler said while sitting at his locker. “Overall, I’m good. Happy.”

Butler’s words matched the condition of his knee.

With his legs spread, you can see the long scar on his swollen, surgically repaired right knee, which he recently had surgery on on February 9 – a visual indication that Butler is in the early stages of a long recovery process rehabilitating a torn ACL. And those first steps of rehabilitation have not been easy.

“[It’s been] “It’s hard not being with my guys. It’s hard not being able to play the game I love,” Butler said of his last five weeks. And are not able to travel. It is difficult, but rehabilitation is going on. “We’re doing what we need to do to get back on the timeline.”

But like Butler, the always positive and introspective man he was, he maintained perspective on his situation.

“It’s not all bad, I still tell people I’m an NBA player. So I’m happy with that,” Butler said before pointing to two-way players Nate Williams and Malevi Lyons, two lockers.

“There are still some amazing guys taking advantage of their opportunity, some guys are down. That was a time in my Chicago days. So I get very happy, and smile when I see guys playing well. And then, you know, I got my family, the kids were around. And then I knew I was working my way back toward something. So it all puts you in perspective.”

Warriors’ season after Jimmy Butler’s injury

Buttler had only recently been given permission to fly due to his knee condition deteriorating following surgery, so he made it a priority to rejoin the team amid a tough six-game trip, which was a much-needed morale boost for a team struggling to stay afloat.

Golden State has gone 7-16 since Butler tore his ACL on Jan. 19 against the Miami Heat. Shortly after Butler went down, Stephen Curry did the same, suffering patellofemoral pain syndrome and a knee injury. Without their two stars, the Warriors have dropped to ninth place in the West.

And with injuries to other players on their roster, the Portland Trail Blazers are in danger of falling even lower to 10th place as they fall behind. In New York, the Warriors were facing no more than $190 million in payroll, fielding a rotation that included three two-way players and one on 10-day contracts.

After the loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kerr said, “I remember we lost as well as any team.”

Butler’s recovery timeline

So, it is safe to say that the Warriors missed Butler a lot. But the timeline for when they’ll bring him back after he recovers from this latest injury remains to be seen.

When Butler was asked if he knew when he would be able to return, he said, “I want to come back.”

“We all know that. Obviously I can’t say when. [But] I can help my guys win some games as quickly as possible. But as you’ve probably heard me say a lot, whenever my body is ready, like this injury, for all other injuries, big, small, whenever my body is ready, I promise I’m going to try to get back out.

To get his knee back where it wants to be, Butler is attacking his rehab with a competitive edge, which is a very similar approach to Jimmy Butler’s approach to his recovery. Butler and his rehab team have a chart hanging on the wall with week-by-week goals. The goals are to bend the knee and bend it a certain number of degrees. His next goal at six weeks of rehab is to get rid of his crutches.

“So in a week, you can buy [my] Crutches,” Butler joked, pointing to one of the reporters sitting near his locker.

Charts have become Butler’s obsession in the best possible way. His livelihood was taken away in an instant. A livelihood in which competition was at the center of everything. So being able to frame his rehab like a competition allows Butler to maintain that aspect of his life.

“I see it all the time,” Butler said. “But at the same time, everything we do in rehab is about competition. You know, whether it’s today versus tomorrow. What are my numbers compared to other guys in the past. Don’t say any names, but it’s competition to see if you can be better than them. You can be better than you were yesterday. So it locks me in. Because I at least get a chance to compete that way.”

So while the scars on Butler’s knee are taking a toll on his body, his spirits remain intact. Whatever happens, as strong as ever.

“I’m just going to focus on myself and get back to being the best version of myself.”

The Phoenix Suns have been a surprise team this season, strongly poised to clinch a top-six seed in the Western Conference standings and clinch a playoff berth. If the Suns move up to the No. 6 seed, and the rest of the standings hold, they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round playoff series. And count Suns guard Dillon Brooks as one guy who’s enjoying that potential matchup.

During a recent episode of ‘Million Dollar’s Worth of Games,’ Dillon Brooks confidently expressed his thoughts on the Suns’ chances in a potential playoff series against the Timberwolves.

“You never know, ant [Anthony Edwards] This year it could be a great year and win a chip. . .But they come to us, there’s going to be problems,” Brooks said. “We’ve got their number this year.”

Brooks further said that during one of the Suns’ games against the Timberwolves this year, he did a good job guarding Julius Randle because no one else on the team had the strength to match up against the All-Star forward.

The Suns have faced off against the Timberwolves twice so far this season, with the final regular season matchup on March 17. The Suns are 2-0 in those first two meetings, with both games being close.

It’s uncertain why Brooks would single out the Timberwolves of all teams. To face these two teams in the playoffs, the Timberwolves would have to capture the No. 3 seed in the West, and the Suns would have to move up to the No. 6 seed. If the current situation holds, the Suns will be in the play-ins.

Brooks is currently out with a hand injury, but has been one of the Suns’ most influential players this season.