Transfer Centre

Manchester United's Victor Lindelof wanted by Rennes?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 22 August 2023

Man United's Victor Lindelof wanted by Rennes?

Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof is reportedly on Rennes' transfer wishlist, but the Sweden international remains happy at Old Trafford.

Ligue 1 club Rennes have reportedly shortlisted Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof as a possible defensive target.

The Sweden international remains below Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the defensive pecking order at Old Trafford and will seemingly struggle for Premier League minutes this season.

Furthermore, Lindelof is now in the final year of his contract with the Red Devils, although the club do possess an option to extend his stay for another 12 months.

Nevertheless, a summer exit has unsurprisingly been mooted considering his lack of starts last term, as he featured from the first whistle just 14 times in the Premier League, nine of which came while Martinez and Varane were recovering from injury.

The 29-year-old was also an unused substitute in Man United's EFL Cup final win over Newcastle United, although he did play 83 minutes of their FA Cup loss to Manchester City at Wembley.

Victor Lindelof pictured for Manchester United in October 2021 © Reuters

Ahead of a possible free transfer away from Old Trafford in 2024, RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins claims that Lindelof is on the radar of Rennes, who could lose Arthur Theate in the last knockings of the window.

The Belgian defender has apparently been the subject of a €30m (£25.6m) bid from RB Leipzig, while Liverpool and Fulham also want to prise him away from Roazhon Park.

Rennes could therefore accelerate their pursuit of Lindelof should Theate depart, but the Swedish defender is believed to be happy in Manchester, in spite of his place in the pecking order.

Furthermore, a separate update from Fabrizio Romano states that Erik ten Hag considers Lindelof a fundamental part of his plans, and he has no intention of letting the Scandinavian depart.

Lindelof rose to prominence at Benfica before joining Man United in a £29.8m deal in 2017, and he has since recorded three goals and six assists in 232 games for the Red Devils.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag before the match on May 4, 2023 © Reuters

Lindelof came off the bench for the second half of Man United's opening Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he was an unused substitute in the weekend's loss against Tottenham Hotspur.

Similarly, fellow fringe defender Harry Maguire is also expected to stay put at the Theatre of Dreams beyond the September 1 deadline, having given West Ham United the cold shoulder.

The Irons reached an agreement with Man United for a deal worth circa £30m, but West Ham could not agree personal terms with Maguire and the deal quickly collapsed.

However, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have both left the club on free transfers this summer, leading to suggestions that the Red Devils could try to bring in another defender before the end of the window.

Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard was a prime target, but Maguire's refusal to join West Ham meant that a move for the Frenchman was not feasible, and he is now expected to join Inter Milan.