Europa League winners Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Benfica defender Victor Lindelof, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness).
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a decent season at the Portuguese giants, starting 32 of their 34 Primeira Liga games, and helping the team secure a second successive league title by beating FC Porto by six points to top spot.
And although they exited the Champions League at the round of 16 stage, Lindelof helped the side add two other trophies over the course of the season, and his fine form in the backline has attracted interest from around Europe.
It was reported over the weekend that Italian giants Roma were looking to lock horns with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United for the Sweden international, but more recent reports from Portugal suggest that the Red Devils are in pole position to land the 22-year-old.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola report that the Premier League giants are hoping to get a deal done over the coming weeks, following the conclusion of Lindelof’s two international games against France and Norway in mid-June.
Although Mourinho led United to the League Cup and Europa League this term, and thus a return to the Champions League, they simply must improve upon their sixth place finish in the Premier League next season, and the Portuguese boss clearly feels that strengthening his defensive options will help him achieve that.
Whether they can get a deal done for Lindelof soon remains to be seen, but it does look as though the Red Devils are the team in charge of that particular transfer saga.