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Manchester United’s big January signing looked set to be Swedish centre-back Victor Lindelöf, though José Mourinho has reportedly now lost interest in the 22-year-old Benfica defender. According to a report from the BBC, “the form of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo in central defence has persuaded [Mourinho] he does not need to buy.”
The news follows on from Portuguese reports that Lindelöf would become United’s all-time most expensive defensive purchase, and that he was to be handed the No. 2 shirt that has been vacant ever since Rafael departed for Lyon a couple of years ago — a happening still too painful for us to dwell on.
Anyway, it’s certainly true to say Jones and Rojo have been very impressive in the last few matches, but it’s also true to say that banking on them in the long term seems to be optimistic at best, and stupid at worst — whether or not Lindelöf is the best replacement or not.