Erik ten Hag has been dealt an unfortunate hand at centre-back so far this season, with several of his players there sustaining untimely injuries in the opening stretch of the campaign.
Lisandro Martinez, who was one of United’s best players last season, has aggravated the issue that prematurely ended his maiden year and will be out for the foreseeable future.
Raphael Varane is continuing to struggle with minor knocks here and there and Harry Maguire has been in and out of the team due to small injuries.
United needed reinforcements in that area over the summer and Jonny Evans was brought back to the club to provide cover but often, it was Victor Lindelof who had to step up and fill in.
It’s safe to say that the Sweden captain has played that role well and he is now a near-permanent fixture in the lineup and according to reports, there are now plans to extend his contract.
That’s according to the Daily Star, who say that United are planning to trigger their option to extend his contract for an additional season in a bid to stop him from leaving on a free transfer next year.
Lindelof signed a new five-year contract in 2019, two years after he joined the club from Benfica, and the club are now reportedly set to extend his stay at the club to an eighth year.
As per the report, despite the plans to extend his contract, there are still murmurings that he could be sold in January or next summer, with Juvenus and AC Milan possibly rekindling their interest.