{"id":2585,"date":"2016-12-21T11:30:52","date_gmt":"2016-12-21T16:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=2585"},"modified":"2016-12-21T11:42:53","modified_gmt":"2016-12-21T16:42:53","slug":"victor-lindelof-iceman-manchester-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/12\/21\/victor-lindelof-iceman-manchester-united\/","title":{"rendered":"Victor Lindel\u00f6f: Why “The Iceman” Would be the Right Signing for Manchester United"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday\u00a0morning, news broke<\/a> that Manchester United<\/strong> were to meet Benfica<\/strong> representatives over the possible signing of Swedish centre-half, Victor Lindel\u00f6f<\/strong>. The reported sum is expected to be in the region of \u00a338 million, and while many have scoffed at this price-tag for a relatively unknown and unproven player, over in Portugal many would consider this to be a good bit of business for United.<\/p>\n

Who is Victor Lindelof?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Representatives from the Portuguese giants met with United’s chief executive Ed Woodward<\/strong> in Manchester on Monday and a deal is said to be edging ever-nearer. Can Lindel\u00f6f cut it in the Premier League<\/strong>? Does he warrant the extravagant price-tag?<\/p>\n

Profile<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Age: 22.<\/p>\n

Height: 6ft2.<\/p>\n

Nationality: Swedish.<\/p>\n

Previous clubs: Vasteras SK<\/strong> (2010-2011), Benfica (2011-present).<\/p>\n

International record: 11 games, 1 goal.<\/p>\n

Strengths: Versatility, composure on the ball and timing his tackles to near perfection.<\/p>\n

Weaknesses: His passing range and ability. While his composure is unquestionable, the Swede has been known to be a little too eager to hoof the ball clear.<\/p>\n

Background\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lindel\u00f6f began his career in his native nation and hometown with\u00a0Vasteras SK, along with a handful of small, local Swedish teams. Vasteras themselves were also a relatively small side, playing in the third tier of Swedish football at the time. The centre-half accumulated 41 appearances for the club during his two-year tenure there, before he was snapped up by Benfica at the age of 17 in 2011.<\/p>\n

He was initially assigned to their youth team, Benfica B<\/strong>, but after a couple of years and a string of impressive performances, he was soon promoted to the senior side. He made his debut for the\u00a0\u00c1guias\u00a0<\/em>in October 2013. First-team opportunities came few and far between at first, but he soon got his chance.<\/p>\n

After injuries pushed him higher up the pecking order, Lindel\u00f6f finally broke into the first-team mid-way through last season. He and fellow superstar,\u00a0Renato Sanches,<\/strong> led Benfica to 13 wins in their last 14 games to snatch the Primeira Liga<\/strong> title from under the noses of rivals Sporting Lisbon<\/strong> by two points.<\/p>\n

Lindel\u00f6f was given the nickname ‘The Iceman’ by the Benfica fans later that season due to his confident, powerful displays in the run-up to the title win. He continued his form into the new season and has been a starter ever since. He has racked up a total of 49 appearances for the Portuguese side so far, with one goal to his name, too.<\/p>\n

His commanding displays haven’t\u00a0gone unnoticed, as he earned a call-up to the senior national side in 2016. He also was selected in Sweden’s\u00a0Euro 2016 squad, where he started all of their\u00a0three group games, playing as a right-back.<\/p>\n

Premier League\u00a0<\/strong>Suitability<\/b><\/h3>\n

Many have compared Lindel\u00f6f’s style of play to that of a young Rio Ferdinand<\/strong>. His uncanny ability to remain calm\u00a0even when on the\u00a0biggest of stages, twinned with his dominance in the tackle, has drawn many comparisons to the former United defender. The Iceman’s ability to time challenges and not dive in too recklessly is also impressive, as he’s yet to be carded this season, and only received five yellows last year.<\/p>\n

Lindel\u00f6f’s strength and superiority in the air will see him acclimatise to the physicality of the Premier League very quickly. His passing will need a fair bit of work, but it’s something that will only improve with experience and some work on the training ground. Other than his passing abilities, it’s fair to say that he is one of the most well-rounded young defenders in the game right now.<\/p>\n

Who’s said what<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many popular people in and around Manchester United have had their say on the Swede,\u00a0and arguably no one knows his value and ability as well as Sweden captain and current United striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107<\/strong>. He said<\/a>: “I think Victor is doing great things, he is playing good for Benfica, he gets a lot of responsibility for the national team now, he is growing. It’s up to him what he wants and what the situation says.\u00a0I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice.”<\/p>\n

Former 1999 United treble winner and fellow Swede Jesper Blomqvist<\/strong> also had his say, claiming that the comparisons to Rio Ferdinand are fair but he’s not “at their level yet, but he is very capable of getting there.<\/a>”<\/p>\n

Right now, Manchester United need cover at the back more than ever. Eric Bailly<\/strong> is set to jet off to Gabon<\/strong> in January for the African Cup of Nations<\/strong>, and while Phil Jones<\/strong> and Marcus Rojo<\/strong> have struck up an unlikely partnership at the back, injuries can hit at any time.<\/p>\n

If Lindel\u00f6f\u00a0were to sign, he wouldn’t rot on the bench or the reserves, that’s for sure. He’s proven before that he can step up when needed, and when the opportunity arises at United, expect him to take it with both hands.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n