Manchester United pull plug on Victor Lindelof because Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones fit the bill

MANCHESTER UNITED will not make a move for Victor Lindelof in January.

Boss Jose Mourinho was reported to be very interested in the 22-year-old Swedish centre-back.

3

But now BBC Sport understands the form of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo in central defence has persuaded manager Jose Mourinho he does not need to buy the Benfica defender for anything up to £42million.

Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester United news, gossip and transfers on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary

Mourinho also has cover at centre-back in Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind.

Reports from Portugal had claimed Lindelof would become the club's most expensive all-time defender and that he had already been assigned a squad number at Old Trafford,

Related Stories

UP IN SMOKE

Man United flop Memphis Depay in hot water after being pictured puffing on shisha pipe while in Rotterdam

'BEST WRAP HIM UP IN COTTON WOOL'

Man United ace Paul Pogba stuns fans with friendly kickabout

January sales

Find out when the January transfer window closes and when new signings can play

WHO'S GOING WHERE?

Alexis Sanchez, Virgil van Dijk and Edinson Cavani tipped for mega moves in 2017

Since Jones and Rojo were paired together for the first time in the 3-1 win against Swansea on November 6, United are unbeaten for 11 games - one short of equalling their best run since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

3

3

Jones and Rojo have been in central defence together for nine of those matches, when they have conceded just seven goals.

can play at right back or in central defence.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip ahead of the January window with SunSport's daily LIVE blog

He started all three of Sweden’s Euro 2016 group matches and has 11 caps.

Had Lindelof arrived at Old Trafford he would have taken Jose Mourinho’s spending in his first season past the £180million mark.