Manchester United January Transfers
Victor Lindelof has again been left out of Benfica’s League Cup squad as speculation about a move to Manchester United rages on. The Swedish defender was not included in the starting line-up or among the substitutes for his side’s routine 4-0 win over Vizela on Tuesday night, having also missed a 1-0 win over Ferreira in the competition last week.
It was the second match in succession which Lindelof wasn’t involved in and there have been no reports suggesting he is injured, more that he was simply rested over the festive period. Lindelof’s last Benfica appearance came in the 2-0 Primeira Liga win over Rio Ave on 21 December.
From Manchester United’s point of view, there hasn’t been much movement at all. Jose Mourinho is yet to comment directly on Lindelof and it is believed the surge in form of both Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo has made it less of a necessity for Mourinho to bring in defensive reinforcement this January – even with Eric Bailly going to the African Cup of Nations.
Benfica coach Rui Vitoria admitted last month the club was prepared for Lindelof’s possible departure in the New Year.
“Sometimes players have to leave because their careers, their age, the way they are playing and developing means there will be clubs interested who can give them a different life and take them on a different path,” he said.
“If this happens, we have solutions. We have a B team packed with great players and in the short term some of them will be playing for Benfica’s first-team.”
The only question is whether Mourinho wants to spend big in January on a defender or if he is now confident with the defensive options he’s got at his disposal between now and the end of the year. With injury prone players like Jones or Smalling part of his choices, it would certainly be a bit of a risk to stick only with what he’s currently got.
When the Lindelof to United stories emerged in the Portuguese press they sold it as a deal which was almost done already. As it transpired, that was somewhat premature but the stories are certainly still there, bubbling away, waiting to see if Lindelof does indeed complete his move to Old Trafford this January.
Over the last six years, Benfica have sold 13 of their most sought-after players for a total of £270million and United missed out on signing Renato Sanches only because of their failure to appoint Mourinho sooner.