Manchester United will have to wait until next summer if they want to successfully sign Benfica centre-back, Victor Lindelof, according to reports in theMirror.
United manager Jose Mourinho is understood to be desperate to strengthen his defensive options in the January transfer window and has identified the Swede as his number one target.
Manchester United make Victor Lindelof No.1 transfer target - but there's a but https://t.co/GV2QJy26Xv #mufc pic.twitter.com/TZsQI6GAkO
However, the Portuguese may have to search elsewhere after Lindelof's club, Benfica, stated that the defender was not for sale at any price because they have qualified for the Champions League last 16.
The club were drawn against Borussia Dortmund in last Monday's draw and value Lindelof's services over any potential big money offer they may receive for him.
United are understood to have been monitoring the 22-year-old for several months now and had scouts watching the centre-back during Benfica's recent victory over Sporting Lisbon.
Whilst it's likely that the Portuguese club would be willing to sell their man to United, they remain adamant that no agreement can be reached in the new year and that talks will have to wait until the end of the season.
Mourinho is keen to add to his defensive options as the Red Devils continue to be hampered by injury problems.
Chris Smalling, whose commitment was questioned by the manager, remains sidelined with a broken toe and fellow first choice centre-back, Eric Bailly, has already developed a worrying habit of picking up injuries.
Although Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been filling in admirably for the last month or so, United's tendency to concede late goals this year is causing great concern for Mourinho, whose insistence that the club need another centre-back in the new year may mean that an alternative to Lindelof will need to be identified.