Why Manchester United have to sell Victor Lindelof this summer, his time is up

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Manchester United need to develop a ruthless edge and the forthcoming decision over Victor Lindelof will give the chance to show it.

Victor Lindelof has been at Manchester United for seven years now, since his £31 million transfer move from Benfica.

Lindelof has had a handful of moments where he has been brilliant, most memorably away at AC Milan in a Europa League win, and he stepped up strongly at the end of last season.

For most of the Sweden international’s time at Old Trafford, he has been just ‘fine’. A solid professional, a reliable player – aside from his early struggles in 2017 – and an important part of the Manchester United squad.

Now time is approaching where Lindelof’s Manchester United career reaches a crossroads, and the club must make the right decision.

Victor Lindelof contract

Victor Lindelof’s contract was due to expire this summer. Manchester United really should have simply decided to release him, and really be ruthless.

Instead, typically, United offered him a one-year extension to protect his value. This is a middle-ground to the way the club has operated lately. In the past under Ed Woodward he would have been handed a long-term extension.

The one-year deal allows United to sell Lindelof this summer for a small fee. This was how the club handled Fred’s situation last summer, handing the Brazilian a one-year extension before selling him for £13 million to Fenerbahce in 2023.

Lindelof turns 30 in the summer, and he is part of an ageing backline which needs re-shaping.

Victor Lindelof’s declining usage

Victor Lindelof has made 12 Premier League starts this season amid an injury-hit campaign for the team.

He has stayed relatively fit, but has been unable to establish himself as a regular, once again finding himself as a third-wheel, or at times, even lower down the pecking order.

Last season he made only 14 Premier League starts, a figure which was lower until a late season injury to Lisandro Martinez.

Until Erik ten Hag’s arrival, Lindelof had started 20-plus Premier League games in every season he had spent at Old Trafford.

Time to sell Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof is a reliable-enough player, but Manchester United just have very little to offer him. The defence needs to be upgraded, with a younger approach.

There are likely to be suitors, he is still Sweden’s international captain, and it is in his best interests to move on to a club where he can play regular football.

Next season Martinez should be fit again, while United are expected to sign one or two central defenders, and Willy Kambwala is coming through too.

Even if Raphael Varane is sold, as expected, Lindelof should be permitted to leave too. While he has a part to play between now and the end of the season, it’s becoming clear that his time is up.

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