Jose Mourinho's Return to Real Madrid: Impact on Liverpool's Midfield Plans

Jose Mourinho’s looming return to Real Madrid is already casting a long shadow over the summer market – and the ripple effect could land squarely at Anfield.

The Portuguese coach is expected to be confirmed as Madrid’s new head coach, with multiple leading outlets aligning on the same story: the Bernabéu is bracing for a second Mourinho era. With that comes a familiar pattern. He wants his own spine, his own enforcer, his own version of control in the middle of the pitch.

Spanish outlet Cope reports that Mourinho has identified a new defensive midfielder as a priority, and one name sits at the top of his list: Morten Hjulmand of Sporting CP.

The Danish international has been tracked by a host of major European clubs after an impressive season in Portugal. Strong in the tackle, disciplined without the ball, and comfortable dictating play from deep, Hjulmand fits the classic Mourinho blueprint. If Madrid move decisively, Sporting will face intense pressure to sell, and the Bernabéu would gain another specialist at the base of midfield.

That is where Liverpool’s interest is piqued – not in Hjulmand himself, but in the knock-on effect in Madrid’s engine room.

For years, Liverpool have admired two men who already wear white: Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga. Both have been heavily linked to Anfield in previous windows, both fit the profile of the athletic, ball-winning midfielder Liverpool have sought since the departures and reshaping of their title-winning core.

Tchouaméni, in particular, came close. The Frenchman has previously spoken openly to Le Parisien about how close he was to joining Liverpool back in 2022, only for Real Madrid to win the race. He chose the European champions. The story seemed closed.

Now it may be reopening.

Reports in England suggest Tchouaméni could leave Madrid this summer, with the Telegraph claiming Manchester United are circling. The possibility is clear: if Mourinho secures Hjulmand as his defensive anchor, the midfield hierarchy in Madrid shifts. Someone becomes expendable. Tchouaméni is the obvious candidate.

That scenario would present Liverpool with a rare opportunity. They still need a true defensive midfielder to lock down the centre of the pitch, a player capable of screening the back line and setting the tempo in big games. Tchouaméni, entering what should be his peak years, fits that need almost perfectly.

The timing is intriguing for another reason. As of 20 May 2026, Tchouaméni’s situation at Real Madrid is far from serene. The 26-year-old has racked up 49 appearances this season, but the mood around the club has darkened after Barcelona secured back-to-back La Liga titles. Pressure has risen, nerves have frayed, and the dressing room has felt the strain.

It spilled over in early May. Tchouaméni was involved in a physical training-ground altercation with teammate Federico Valverde, an incident that club president Florentino Pérez publicly downplayed but which quickly leaked into the media. For a player already under scrutiny, the clash only added noise around his future.

Drop Mourinho into that environment, add a big-money move for a specialist like Hjulmand, and the picture becomes even clearer. Madrid would have both the motive and the means to listen to serious offers for Tchouaméni.

Manchester United have reportedly stepped forward. Liverpool, though, know this player, know his profile, and know how close they once came. They also know that chances to sign a midfielder of this calibre, in this role, do not appear every summer.

If Mourinho gets his way and Hjulmand walks through the doors at Valdebebas, the next move will belong to Europe’s elite recruiters. For Liverpool, the question is stark: do they let a second chance at Aurélien Tchouaméni pass them by – or step into a battle that could reshape their midfield for years?