Everton are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof. The Swedish international was brought in from Benfica last year by Jose Mourinho for a reported fee of £31.5m. He has been unable to impress in his first season at Old Trafford and Mourinho may now have a chance to offload him with Everton interested.
It is being reported that the Toffees’ new boss Marco Silva has discussed and organized his transfer plans for the summer with the club’s new director of football, Michael Brands. It is being believed that the duo have drawn up a list of targets for the summer and want to bring in a certain group of players with Lindelof being a priority signing. It is also being reported that Everton are ready to pay as much as £35m for the Swedish international should United agree to sell him.
Sweden manager Janne Andersson has expressed his views on the matter saying that he would be surprised if the Red Devils let Lindelof go. He was quoted saying, “Victor was outstanding in our two World Cup playoff games against Italy when they didn’t score against us in either game. It was a difficult transition from Portuguese football to the Premier League for Victor but I’m absolutely certain he will be a success for United going forward.”
The defender was an excellent player back in his days at Benfica and that is what triggered Mourinho and United to bring him to England at the age of 22. He is a ball-playing defender with exceptional technical skills for a centre-back. He is versatile enough to play as a left-back as well. Lindelof, however, failed to adapt to the pace and the physicality of the English Premier League, like so many before him.
Many technically solid players with flair and panache have found it tough in England where the game is more about pace and brutality rather than finesse and aristocracy. Lindelof became one of those victims in his first season when he was caught on the ball too often and made too many errors which cost United, namely the two mistakes leading two the 2-1 defeat against Huddersfield Town.
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It is being believed Silva wants to bring him in to toughen up his defence at the club which needs a new face rather desperately. Lindelof is still young and can learn fast to improve his game. Moreover, he would have more wiggle room in a team managed by Silva which is more likely to hold the ball than at United where Mourinho’s strategy of defending deep requires his centre-backs to be completely disciplined without the ball.