That thing you heard about Manchester United signing a new defender in January – forget it.
Only yesterday, it seemed José Mourinho had finalised a deal to bring Benfica’s Swedish defender Victor Lindelöf to Old Trafford, with some reports even claiming a fee and a shirt number had been agreed for the 22-year-old.
On Wednesday morning however, things didn’t seem so certain. Word that Lindelöf planned to ink a new deal with the Portuguese club – one that would contain a new £50m buyout clause – started doing the rounds. It seemed that if United were going to get their man in January, they were going to have to fork out considerably more than they would’ve probably like to.
Now, it appears United have shelved any plans to move for the Swedish international.
According to the BBC, Mourinho has been so impressed by the form of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones that he’s opted not to move for reinforcements in the new year.
Neither Rojo or Jones were considered first choice at the start of the season, but having been put together in early November to cover for other defensive injuries, the pair have looked solid and have played their part in United’s 11-game unbeaten run. If they avoid defeat to Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve, this will equal their best run since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson over three years ago.
As well as Jones and Rojo, Mourinho has also welcomed back Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly to full fitness, with Daley Blind also able to step in and cover in central defence, as he did throughout much of Louis van Gaal’s final season with the club.
