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Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Benfica defender Victor Lindelof.

The Red Devils sent scouts to make a check on the Sweden international during Sunday's 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon , reports the Manchester Evening News.

Lindelof is among United's targets and played 90 minutes in the victory at Estádio da Luz at the weekend.

Jose Mourinho intends on making two defensive acquisitions next month, with Eric Bailly due to miss at least four games in the new year over his Africa Cup of Nations commitments with the Ivory Coast.

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United have scouted several Benfica players in recent years and Lindelof was effusively endorsed by compatriot Zlatan Ibrahimovic just three weeks ago.

"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," Ibrahimovic said.

"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.

(Image: Getty Images)

"I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice, what fits him good." Lindelof's agent also hinted at a January move.

Lindelof signed for Benfica aged 17 in 2012 for €60,000 and is contracted to the club until 2020.

Benfica refused to pay his former club Vasteras an additional €250,000 after Lindelof made 10 senior starts in the Primeira Liga and Champions League and the Swedish side has submitted a formal complaint to Fifa’s players’ status committee.

(Image: AFP)

Sweden international Lindelof has already played 22 times for club and country this season and is just the latest Benfica talent to interest United.

The club monitored Javi Garcia, Ezequiel Garay, Nico Gaitan and, most recently, Renato Sanches.

Sanches' agent Jorge Mendes convinced United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to scout the teenager in January last year and he was then regularly watched by United but joined Bayern Munich in May.