Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has insisted that compatriot Victor Lindelof is good enough to make the move to Old Trafford.
The United defence is an area that Jose Mourinho is likely to prioritise in the upcoming transfer window, with the Portuguese tactician making his issues with the likes of Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw known publicly.
With Eric Bailly out injured and absent in January due to the African Cup of Nations, the Red Devils could certainly do with strengthening in that department and Ibrahimovic believes he knows the perfect man for the job.
“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,” he said, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
“Is he good enough for United? I think he’s good enough for the big clubs out there. It’s up to him what he wants and what the situation says. Whatever he chooses will be good for him.
“I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice, what fits him good.”
The 22-year-old has 11 caps for Sweden to his name already and has worked his way through the youth ranks at Benfica to emerge as a key part of their senior side having made 15 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
It builds on an impressive campaign last year, and so as he continues to gain experience and develop his all-round game, it will only further strengthen the argument that a top club in one of Europe’s big leagues should target him.
It remains to be seen whether or not that’s United as Mourinho is unlikely to be swayed by one of his own players in the transfer market.
Nevertheless, he will have to address that area of his squad sooner rather than later, with question marks still hanging over the likes of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo as to whether or not they are the long-term solutions to United’s problems at the back.