Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Victor Lindelof Deal

Victor Lindelof's agent has confirmed Benfica are considering a transfer offer, amid rumours the Swedish defender is set to join Manchester United during the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old's exit from the Portuguese champions has also been hinted at by his club manager, as well as by a former player.

Lindelof's agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, told Swedish source Aftonbladet (h/t Uche Amako of the Daily Express) that Benfica have received a bid the club are now mulling: "I will not comment on specific clubs. I can only comment that there is a bid for Benfica's table, they can consider. And I'll be meeting with Benfica also."

The agent's revelations come at the same time Benfica manager Rui Vitoria appeared to indicate he's ready to lose a key player, per Simon Stone of BBC Sport: "If there are exits we will find solutions."

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Vitoria isn't the only person connected with Benfica who has hinted Lindelof could be close to moving to Old Trafford.

Former player Antonio Veloso all but confirmed the defender will leave, per Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News: "It's no surprise to me that Lindelof is being transferred. I just did not know if it would be now or at the end of the season, since there was strong interest from Manchester United and other clubs."

The credibility of the rumours has also been boosted by reports Benfica may already be lining up a replacement for one of their key figures at the back. In fact, the Eagles are said to be close to a deal for Chilean defender Simon Ramirez, according to MailOnline's Simon Jones.

The South American can operate at right-back, the same as Lindelof. Jones reported how the 18-year-old is likely to sign for £700,000, which would represent a massive profit if the proposed fees United are expected to pay for Lindelof are accurate.

Sky Sports News HQ reported on Tuesday United had begun talks regarding a deal worth in excess of £30 million:

However, Sarah Boyall of The Sun has reported Lindelof will be a United player once a £42 million transfer is made official. Paying either price would make him the Red Devils' most expensive defender.

Yet this rising star might be considered worth the money thanks to his versatility and toughness; he can play in the middle or at full-back.

He's composed on the ball and terrific in the air. This is an uncompromising yet skilled defender who can mix it physically but also has the composure to help his teams play out from the back.

In other words, Lindelof has all the qualities to become a true talisman in defence, something United have lacked since Nemanja Vidic was bossing opposition attackers.

Manager Jose Mourinho has tried a host of combinations at the heart of defence since succeeding Louis van Gaal in the summer. He signed Eric Bailly from Villarreal in the summer and has also given playing time to Daley Blind, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.

The latter duo have formed a formidable partnership in recent matches. In fact, Mourinho may feel so confident in Rojo and Jones that he may not need to sign Lindelof.

The manager has played down all the transfer talk during an interview with Sky Sports (h/t Metro's Sean Kearns): "In Portugal, the front pages say every player in Portugal now is coming to Manchester United."

Mourinho may be playing his cards close to his chest, but he'll struggle to find a young defender as adept as Lindelof. He's a star on the rise, one who could help underpin a squad beginning to show signs of rebuilding into something special on the Portuguese's watch.