Manchester - Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly has welcomed reports linking Benfica's Victor Lindelof with a move to Old Trafford, saying he would relish playing alongside the Sweden international.

The 22-year-old emerged as a reported target for the Red Devils in December, with many press outlets in England suggesting that manager Jose Mourinho could sanction a move in the January transfer window.

While there have been no further updates on a potential move for Lindelof, Bailly feels he could strike up a strong partnership with the versatile Swede were he to make the switch to United.

"I hope to play with him. Hopefully he will help us," Bailly told Fotbollskanalen. "He is a very good player.

"He has great qualities and will certainly do well if he comes to us."

He continued: "We have many good central defenders, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones, but I hope I get to play with Lindelof.

"I don't have a guaranteed place and I know I have to be good to play. We're all fighting to play. I think we have done well. We have done our best.

"The day we get to play, if it comes, we must take advantage of that opportunity. I think we would fit well together."

Lindelof has made 31 league appearances for Benfica since making his first-team debut in 2013, and has been capped 11 times by Sweden's senior national team.

Bailly is currently unavailable to Mourinho as he has joined up with the Ivory Coast squad to compete in the African Cup of Nations tournament tournament.