Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Nelson Semedo, Virgil van Dijk Rumours

Benfica's Nelson Semedo, said to be a target for Manchester United, is reportedly set to sign a new contract with his current club that will include an €80 million (£68 million) release clause.

That's according to Record (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness) who suggested the Lisbon club are keen to tie down the defender amid a lot of interest from elsewhere. It's suggested that as well as the Red Devils, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan have been looking at Semedo following a string of impressive performances.

The Portugal international has excelled on the right flank for Benfica this term. Here is a look at some of his best moments from the campaign:

It's easy to see why Benfica are keen to protect a key asset in Semedo. In 2016-17, he's showcased an increased consistency in his performances and a lot more maturity in his defensive duties.

Semedo's work in the final third is what makes him such an exciting prospect, though, as he boasts searing pace and an eye for a pass in dangerous areas. Portuguese football journalist Tom Kundert recently paid tribute to the 23-year-old's attacking endeavours:

The right-back spot is an interesting position at Old Trafford with Antonio Valencia, a winger by trade, being deployed there by Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho this term. Here's a look at how the two players compare in league matches this season:

	Semedo	Valencia
Apps (Sub)	10	10
Goals	1	0
Assists	1	0
Key passes per game	0.7	1
Passing accuracy	80.3%	86.1%
Dribbles per game	2.3	1.9
Tackles per game	2.5	3.1
Interceptions per game	1.6	2.1

Semedo is one of the most thrilling players in the Portuguese top flight, and while Benfica may not realistically recoup £68 million for him should they decide to sell in the future, they could demand a stratospheric fee. After all, the right-back has the potential to stay at the top for many years.

United could do with that kind of longevity in the position, and while Valencia has performed admirably, the Red Devils would benefit from a natural full-back. Semedo would fit the bill.

Virgil van Dijk Move Unlikely

Matej Divizna/Getty Images

According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United's chances of signing Southampton's star defender Virgil van Dijk in January are currently "remote."

As noted in the report, the Red Devils have been linked with the Dutch international, who has impressed for Saints this term with a string of dominant performances. However, it's suggested Southampton are looking for £40 million before they consider doing business; Liverpool are also noted as possible suitors for the centre-back.

After impressing in his debut term on the south coast for Saints, the 25-year-old has kicked on again in 2016-17. 

Sports journalist Liam Canning believes the former Celtic man is currently the very best in his position in the Premier League:

ESPN FC's Iain Macintosh is also a big fan of the centre-back and thinks he'd fit in tremendously at Old Trafford:

It's a conclusion that's tough to argue with, as alongside veteran defender Jose Fonte, Van Dijk has been a dominant force for Saints.

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

The Dutchman is so multifaceted. Physically, he's a behemoth and rarely loses out in aerial battles; Van Dijk is also forceful in the tackle and quick to recover position in dangerous situations. Additionally, the centre-back is an expert distributor, able to use either foot to play short passes into midfield or ping diagonal balls out to the flank.

So it's [absolutely] no shock some elite sides have been linked with him, and for United, the prospect of a Van Dijk-Eric Bailly partnership is tantalising. However, given the standards he has set recently, Southampton are well within their rights to demand a massive transfer fee before they consider any sale.