Manchester United will not bid for Benfica defender Victor Lindelof next month and will not look to sign another central defender unless injuries turn Jose Mourinho’s hand, reports the BBC.
Lindelof, 23, had emerged as a top target for United ahead of the January transfer window with Mourinho’s side set to sign the Sweden international in a deal worth in excess of £38m.
Mourinho has been keen to strengthen his defence since joining the club over the summer but has ended the club’s reported interest in Lindelof following the form of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.
The defensive duo have been at the heart of United’s recent resurgence and have convinced Mourinho that they do not need to sign another centre-back for now, although they may review that position at the end of the season.
Eric Bailly, who joined United from Villarreal in a deal worth £30m at the start of the season, is due to miss more than a month’s action when he joins the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations next month, but Mourinho will still have Chris Smalling and Daley Blind to pick from, as well as Jones and Rojo, at centre-back.
No defender has completed more passes in the Portuguese Liga Nos than Vindelof this season (747), who was recently named in UEFA’s Champions League breakthrough team of 2016.
For more stats on Victor Lindelof, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
