Jose Mourinho's Impact on Real Madrid's Summer Market

Jose Mourinho’s looming return to Real Madrid is already reshaping the summer market – and the ripple could reach all the way to Anfield.

All credible indications in Spain point to Mourinho being confirmed as the next head coach at the Bernabéu. The club’s planning has moved accordingly. This is now his squad to mould, his spine to rebuild.

Spanish outlet Cope reports that Mourinho has identified a new defensive midfielder as a priority and placed Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand at the top of his list. The Dane has been tracked across Europe after a standout season in Portugal, and Madrid are now expected to push hard for him.

If Hjulmand walks through the door, someone else may have to walk out.

Door opening for Liverpool

Liverpool have not been driving the Hjulmand chase, but his potential arrival in Madrid could unlock a very different opportunity. At Anfield, the admiration has long been aimed at two men already in white: Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga.

Both have been repeatedly linked with Liverpool in recent years. Tchouaméni himself admitted in an interview with Le Parisien that he came close to joining the Reds in 2022 before opting for Real Madrid. That path might be about to reopen.

Reports in England, including from the Telegraph, suggest Tchouaméni could be available this summer, with Manchester United already circling. If Mourinho insists on bringing in Hjulmand as his anchorman, the Frenchman suddenly looks like the most obvious high-value casualty in a crowded midfield.

Liverpool’s need is clear. They require a specialist defensive midfielder to lock down the centre of the pitch, a long-term successor to the control and protection once provided at their peak by Fabinho. Tchouaméni, still in his mid‑twenties, fits that profile as well as almost anyone in Europe.

If Mourinho gets his way in the market, Liverpool will at least have a seat at the table.

Tchouaméni under strain in Madrid

The timing is significant. As of 20 May 2026, Tchouaméni is navigating a turbulent spell at Real Madrid. On paper, 49 appearances this season suggest a player firmly in the plans. The reality has been far more fraught.

Barcelona’s back-to-back La Liga titles have cranked up the pressure inside the club. Standards at Madrid leave little margin for frustration or dip in form, and the tension has spilled onto the training ground.

In early May, Tchouaméni was involved in a physical altercation with teammate Federico Valverde during a session – an incident President Florentino Pérez publicly played down, but one that quickly leaked into the media and fed the narrative of a restless, edgy dressing room.

It all adds up to a player who, while still highly valued, no longer feels completely untouchable.

A summer pivot

This is where Mourinho’s arrival cuts through the noise. He will want his own holding midfielder, his own reference point in front of the defence. If that man is Hjulmand, Real Madrid’s midfield hierarchy shifts overnight.

Camavinga offers versatility. Valverde brings relentless energy and tactical flexibility. Tchouaméni, for all his quality, could become the expendable asset that funds a reshaped squad.

Manchester United are already watching. Liverpool, with a glaring need at No. 6 and a long-standing interest, cannot afford to look away.

The pieces are moving. Mourinho is coming. If Hjulmand follows, the next big question is simple: who moves out of Madrid, and who is brave enough to pounce?