Manchester United have already identified their top transfer target in January as Benfica and Swedish defender Victor Lindelof is edging closer to joining Manchester United. Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira has flown down to England to hold talks with Manchester United chief Ed Woodward over a potential move.
It is rumoured that Benfica are holding out for a deal close to £42 million with up to £38 million paid up front. Manchester United have been keeping an eye on the defender since the summer and have send scouts regularly to check on the Swedish defender. With the likes of Chelsea and Juventus also showing interest, Jose Mourinho is eager to tie up a deal for the highly-rated defender.
With Chris Smalling yet to find his best form for Manchester United this season and with Eric Bailly on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations next month, Manchester United will be short on defenders in the coming months and Jose Mourinho has identified Victor Lindelof as the best possible replacement.
Lindelof, who can also play as a right-back, has already shown his class since joining Benfica in 2012, but his compatriot and Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a lot of praises to dish out to him.
"I think Victor is doing great things, he is playing good for Benfica, he gets a lot of responsibility for the national team now, and he is growing. Is he good enough for United? I think he's good enough for the big clubs out there. It's up to him what he wants. Whatever he chooses will be good for him. I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice, what fits him good," Goal.com quoted Ibrahimovic as saying.
