In recent months, Benfica right-back Victor Lindelof has gathered many plaudits and Manchester United are believed to be one of the clubs looking at a move for the Swedish defender, according to Sky Sports.

The player’s agent has revealed to Swedish publication, Fotbollskanalen, that some of Europe’s biggest club’s are monitoring the progression he makes at Benfica with the possibility of a move occurring in January.

Lindelof has played in Portugal for the past four seasons, but this campaign has witnessed the Swede become a first-team regular in Lisbon and many clubs have started to consider the possibility of signing him.

Manchester United are in dire need of a new centre-back, and the Benfica player may prove a decent signing for the Red Devils, despite the possibility of an enormous price-tag being demanded by the Portuguese club.

Here are FIVE reasons why United must sign the Scandinavian this January in place of other potential players.

He’s very good

Portuguese football may get a tough rap sometimes, but more and more of the continent’s top players are cutting their teeth in the Primeira Liga, while the nation won Euro 2016, illustrating the quality of football as a whole on the Iberian peninsula.

Lindelof may be an import, but he’s been schooled in Lisbon for the past few years and has made a decent impact in the Champions League this term, averaging 1.2 interceptions-per-game across five matches.

Darmian must be sold

It wouldn’t be unfair to describe Matteo Darmian’s Manchester United career as a car crash. The Italian international was signed last season in the hope of becoming the club’s long-term right-back, but it’s not worked out that way.

Fast forward 18 months and Darmian has still not settled into life in Manchester, so the club should be considering selling the Italian this winter and replacing him. Although a central defender, Lindelof can play at right-back and could be a short-term option to ease Mourinho through the season – after all the ‘Special One’ likes a defensively resolute full-back.

Age on his side

The Sweden international has many years ahead of him in the game, so Man United could have a player available to play for the club for the next decade.

Mourinho can mould the young defender into his ideal player and implement his philosophy to ensure this United defence can be transitioned title-winners once again.

Ibrahimovic could help his progression

If United can prise Lindelof away from Benfica, the presence of Ibrahimovic could assist the young centre-back in settling into life in Manchester.

Both players played for Sweden this summer, so their relationship has already blossomed, and Ibrahimovic’s influence could be decisive in ensuring Lindelof settles in England.

Fresh blood needed in defence

The task Mourinho took on with United was not just to instil success back into the club but also to transition United into being a fearsome team once again.

Progression was made in the summer, but the Portuguese manager needs time to build his own squad capable of achieving what’s demanded by the United big-shots.

Signing someone like Lindelof would further add to Mourinho’s influence and ensure he was his own signing capable of moving forward how he demands.