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Manchester United have agreed an initial fee of €35million for the transfer of Sweden international Victor Lindelof from Benfica.

The central defender is due to become the first acquisition of a critical transfer window for the Premier League club upon taking a medical next week.

According to a source familiar with the terms of the deal, Benfica's fee will be augmented by significant performance-related bonuses.

Lindelof, who turns 23 next month, is one of two key defensive reinforcements requested by Jose Mourinho , with the 1m 87cm ball playing centre back set to partner Eric Bailly in the Europa League winners' back four next season.

(Image: Getty) (Image: AFP)

As reported by Record Sport Online in December, the Old Trafford manager asked United to bring Lindelof to Old Trafford in the winter window. Benfica, however, demanded an unrealistic fee of €60m before extending the Swede's contract to 2021 on substantially improved terms. Chelsea also attempted to recruit Lindelof last season, having an offer of €35 plus €10m rejected ahead of their deadline-day decision to bring David Luiz back to Stamford Bridge.

After succeeding in returning United to Champions League football courtesy of the club's first Europa League title, Mourinho has pressed his employers to deliver a squad capable of competing for European football's premier club competition this summer. Negotiations have been left in the hands of Ed Woodward, with United's executive vice-chairman provided with a list of multiple targets for several positions in defence, midfield and attack.

(Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty)

Lindelof's ability to build play from the back is understood to be an important factor in Mourinho's pursuit of the player. After being forced by injury, form and tactical considerations to partner Bailly with Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones or Chris Smalling at various points of his first Old Trafford campaign, he will now seek to develop the two 23-year-olds into a partnership that could potentially serve United for a decade.

Like Bailly – who was also acquired for an initial €35m – Lindelof's ascent has been rapid. Scouted as a Sweden under-17 international, he joined Benfica from Vasteras in 2011. Four years later, he converted the decisive penalty in a European Under-21 Championship Final victory over Portugal, being named in UEFA's team of the tournament. The following season he was promoted to Sweden's full national side, establishing himself as an an ever-present in their Euro 2016 line-ups.

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The bulk of Lindelof's first three seasons in Portuguese football were spent operating as a right back, holding midfielder and centre back for Benfica's B team. In January 2016, Benfica coach Rui Vitoria brought the Swede into his starting line-up, where he helped the Lisbon club come from behind to win the Portuguese title.

They retained that title this season, adding a Taca de Portugal. In all, Benfica have lost just four domestic league and cup matches when Lindelof has started for them.