Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Players Eyed by Red Devils

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Manchester United are reportedly raising interest in Benfica centre-back Victor Lindelof, but a raft of European competition threatens the deal. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are said to be targeting Bayer Leverkusen youngster Benjamin Henrichs.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t Mirror's James Whaling) reported manager Jose Mourinho is considering a winter swoop for Benfica's star defender, who has a release clause valued at €30 million (£26 million).

Interest in the Sweden international runs deep, however, with Premier League rivals Chelsea also linked to the player, as well as French titans Paris Saint-Germain, not to mention the Italian duo of Juventus and Napoli.

Prising Lindelof away from the Estadio da Luz could be a difficult task, too, considering the defender has made such a successful step up in his career since joining Benfica in 2012 and appears to be enjoying his stay:

United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic may be able to have a hand in convincing his Swedish countryman as to why Old Trafford is the right destination for him, not to mention United's need for depth at centre-back.

Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly have been manager Jose Mourinho's first-choice pair in central defence thus far, with the likes of Daley Blind and Phil Jones providing back-up, but some may argue not all in that quartet are truly elite.

Lindelof, 22, arrived at Benfica from Vasteras in January 2012.

Bailly has been a major hit at Old Trafford following his summer arrival from Villarreal, but a knee injury means he'll be out of action until Christmas, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.

Serie A titans Inter Milan are also reportedly in for Lindelof after the Nerazzurri's sporting director Piero Ausilio suggested the Benfica ace is on his club's radar, telling Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (h/t Football Italia):

Semedo and Lindelof? It's our duty to watch other players and Leagues. But I must say we have a group of 27 players and that talking now about the market wouldn't be good for either the Coach or players.

We're in a position to follow some interesting players, and if we decide to strengthen the team then we'll move.

Elsewhere, German newspaper Bild (h/t Mirror) reported Henrichs has attracted Mourinho's attention, and the 19-year-old has previously hinted at attention received from England's clubs: "English clubs were interested after a national match in England in September 2015 with the German U19s."

The teenager is no longer a mere Germany youth player, however, after he made his senior debut against San Marino on Friday, and OptaFranz illustrated just how prominent a player he's been at the BayArena this season:

The right-back stands to face major competition at right-back considering Antonio Valencia has undergone a resurgence under Mourinho, while Matteo Darmian has struggled to feature, as has Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Henrichs has an added benefit in that he can feature on either side of the back four, however, and given United's recent injury woes at full-back, that could be an invaluable resource to the Red Devils.

Source: Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Players Eyed by Red Devils