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Manchester United will get a new Rio Ferdinand or Ronny Johnsen in the making if they can land Swedish defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica.

Fellow Swede and Reds Treble winner Jesper Blomqvist believes United and the 22-year-old would be a perfect match.

Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho has earmarked Lindelof as potential January transfer import to bolster a central defence that has lost Eric Bailly to injury before next month he heads to the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast.

Chris Smalling returned after injury on the Reds' bench at West Bromwich Albion and came on in added on time.

But Mourinho wants extra bodies in the department where Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo his the current first picks.

Blomqvist told M.E.N Sport: “I was watching the November match between Sweden and France on TV and caught a glimpse of Jose Mourinho in the stand and my first thought was that it could only be Victor Lindelof he was looking at.

“My second thought was what a great signing that would be for the player and Manchester United. It would be perfect.

“I have seen him play for the national Under-21s the senior side and in the Champions League for Benfica and he has the right qualities.

“He's quick, confident with the ball, likes to play and is very strong. For United fans I think the best comparisons would be with Rio Ferdinand and Ronny Johnsen. I'm not saying he is at their level yet but he is very capable of getting there.

“He's a mature player and a mature person. One thing I do like about him is that he hasn't gone an easy route with his career.”

Lindelof started at Vasteras SK in Sweden and moved to Portugal as a 17-year-old to join Benfica.

In 2015 he answered an injury SOS for Sweden Under-21s to join the squad for the Under-21 Championships. He ended up in the Team of the Tournament and scored the winning spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out in the final against Portugal.

“I think making the decision to go to Portugal at that age and making a success of it and then doing what he did for the Under-21s shows the character of the player,” added Blomqvist.

“That tells you everything you need to know about him. Obviously, a move to Manchester United is a different level again. Not every Swede is Zlatan Ibrahimovic! But you get the feeling that Victor would handle it okay.”

Jones and Rojo have steered United through a tough time for defensive unit and Blomqvist believes their platform could help smooth any introduction to Old Trafford if the Lindelof move goes through.

“Jones and Rojo have given United solidity recently and unlike the start of the season I don't think Mourinho is actually looking for someone to help them through a crisis,” said Blomqvist.

“He wouldn't be going to England as a saviour for the defence. As much as I think he is a mature lad and can handle pressure I think that could only be a bonus for him.”

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