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Victor Lindelof is “expected to stay” at Old Trafford this season despite Manchester United actively wanting to sell the centre-back this summer.
Lindelof, 30, has twelve months remaining on his contract in Manchester after the club chose to activate an automatic one-year extension over the Christmas period. The Swedish international’s deal had previously been set to expire at the end of last season.
This move by United was designed to protect Lindelof’s value in the transfer market ahead of the club trying to sell him this summer.
An overhaul of Erik ten Hag’s defensive unit was identified as a key priority going into the summer window following a season in which the Dutchman’s backline was decimated by injury.
Two central defenders – Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt – have been signed while fullback Noussair Mazraoui has also been added to the ranks at Old Trafford.
Lisandro Martinez is expected to continue as Ten Hag’s first-choice option at left centre-back, partnered by either De Ligt or Yoro, depending on the latter’s recovery from injury and progression as a defender given he is only 18 years old.
Harry Maguire, a player rumoured to be a potential departure this summer, looks set to remain at the club this season after an impressive resurgence last year. Jonny Evans will remain in an elder statesman role after a one-year extension was agreed for the 36-year-old.
This has left Lindelof as the fifth-choice option in central defence, following the departures of Raphael Varane on a free transfer to Como and Willy Kambwala in a £9.6 million switch to Villarreal.
The Swede had been linked with moves to Germany and Italy with Eintracht Frankfurt reported to be interested in his services, while a report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed AFC Fiorentina had “set their sights” on the defender.
This summer represents the last opportunity for United to command a transfer fee for as Lindelof will be able to talk to new clubs about a prospective free transfer from January onwards.
Old Trafford officials were keen to sell the 30-year-old to help fund deals for other areas of weakness in Ten Hag’s squad, chiefly central midfield with negotiations continuing over a move for PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.
However, a report by the Manchester Evenings News now contends Lindelof is “expected to stay” at the club beyond this summer as he is “still not training nearly three weeks on from his half-time removal in the friendly defeat to Liverpool in South Carolina.”
United had briefed the centre-back’s absence was “precautionary” but he was pictured walking with the aid of a crutch last week.
It is a difficult task to sell a player the wrong side of 30 with only a year remaining on his deal whose current wage packet is unlikely to be bettered elsewhere. It is likely an impossible one when that player is also injured.
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