Manchester United close in on Benfica’s Victor Lindelof to strengthen defence
Manchester United are closing in on Benfica’s Victor Lindelof, with the executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward,
hopeful of buying the central defender in January for less than his release clause of around €45m (£37.8m).
The 22-year-old Sweden international is wanted by José Mourinho to bolster his defensive options. Once Eric Bailly recovers from a knee injury the Ivory Coast centre-back will participate in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, meaning he could be unavailable for six weeks.
Woodward is confident United will not have to pay the amount specified in the release clause for a defender whose relative inexperience is reflected in his having won the first of 11 caps in March of this year. Benfica’s record sale is the €40m received from Zenit Saint Petersburg for Axel Witsel in 2012 and the club would be keen to break this.
Manchester United are closing in on Benfica’s Victor Lindelof, with the executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward,
hopeful of buying the central defender in January for less than his release clause of around €45m (£37.8m).
The 22-year-old Sweden international is wanted by José Mourinho to bolster his defensive options. Once Eric Bailly recovers from a knee injury the Ivory Coast centre-back will participate in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, meaning he could be unavailable for six weeks.
Woodward is confident United will not have to pay the amount specified in the release clause for a defender whose relative inexperience is reflected in his having won the first of 11 caps in March of this year. Benfica’s record sale is the €40m received from Zenit Saint Petersburg for Axel Witsel in 2012 and the club would be keen to break this.
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