We all expected the Portuguese papers to have Victor Lindelof on their front pages on Tuesday morning, but Record showed up with an extra surprise.
According to the Portuguese newspaper, Manchester United have not only closed the deal for the Swedish defender, but have also opened negotiations for the Benfica right-back Nelson Semedo.
The very excited front page reads: ‘MOURINHO MAKES RAID AT THE LUZ – United try to beat Bayern in the race for the fullback, Swede may travel to Manchester in the next few days – LINDELOF ON WAY OUT – Vieira accepts to sell the defender and listens to bids for the fullback – SEMEDO NEGOTIATED’
Manchester United United have been linked to Semedo for a few months now, as club scouts have been watching him at the Estádio da Luz week after week.
When it’s not claimed Manchester United are watching Lindelof, Semedo is one of the other favourite targets for the Portuguese press to pick out.
Manchester United’s decision to start talks now is to put themselves in front of competition from Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, who have already showed interest in the 23-year-old fullback.
There’s no indication if the idea is for a transfer in the winter, or looking ahead towards the summer.
Semedo is very well protected by a €80m release clause, which makes him the most highly valued player in Portugal. It doesn’t necessarily mean Benfica would ask this much for him, and the figure is just something to give the club more weight in transfer negotiations.
Record still don’t know how much have Manchester United would be willing to pay. The negotiations are being held by the Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira, who has reportedly been in, or is still in England this week, accompanied by the player’s agent Jorge Mendes.
José Mourinho is said to consider Semedo the perfect signing for the position. The manager reportedly isn’t convinced by Antonio Valencia, who as highlighted by Record, is a winger improvised as a right-back.
