Surplus to requirements, but will Lindelof leave Man United before the deadline?

The Sweden international has been strongly linked with a move away from the 20-time English champions this summer, as he is now seemingly surplus to requirements at the club.

Lindelof has missed Man United's first two games of the new campaign due to injury, and he was recently pictured using a crutch on an Instagram story from his wife.

The Red Devils have not confirmed the extent of the centre-back's issue, which he suffered during the first half of the club's pre-season friendly with Liverpool at the end of their US Tour.

The 30-year-old is out of contract next June, and he has fallen down the pecking order in terms of the centre-back spots due to Man United's summer transfer business.

Lindelof 'now expected to stay' at Man United

Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire are all ahead of Lindelof when it comes to the centre-back spots, while there is an argument that Jonny Evans is also above the Swede.

The Red Devils will be missing Yoro until November due to a broken foot, but De Ligt, Martinez, Maguire and Evans are all currently available for selection.

According to the Manchester Evening News, despite the speculation, it is thought that Lindelof will see out the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.

The report claims that Man United have been looking for a buyer for Lindelof throughout the summer, but there is a lack of interest in a player who missed 21 games in all competitions last season.

Will Lindelof receive much football this season?

Lindelof, who has recently been linked with Fiorentina, only played two halves of football during pre-season, and he remains a major doubt for Saturday's Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion.

If he stays, the defender would need another defensive injury crisis in order to receive regular action this season, as he has dropped firmly down the pack when it comes to the thinking of head coach Erik ten Hag.

Lindelof arrived at Old Trafford from Benfica in July 2017 with a big reputation, and he has represented the Red Devils on 259 occasions, scoring four goals and registering seven assists in the process.

The centre-back has largely struggled to show his best form for Man United, though, and all of the signs are currently pointing towards a departure on a free transfer next summer.