Manchester United’s centre-backs have been put on alert as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer presses ahead with a move for Harry Maguire.
But Victor Lindelof has outlined his intention to be at the heart of Norwegian’s plans, dismissing talk of a move to Barcelona.
United are locked in talks over Maguire, but are refusing to meet Leicester’s £90million valuation for the England international.
Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has remained back in the UK for the first leg of the club’s tour to Australia and the Far East as he attempts to complete deals for Maguire and Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff.
Should a compromise be reached over Maguire it would further intensify competition among Solskjaer’s bloated selection of centre-backs.
And the United manager suggested he would have to trim his numbers in that department after arriving in Perth with six centre-backs in his squad.
As well as Lindelof, Solskjaer has included Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe in his travelling party.
He said: “Of course there’s a limit of players and whoever performs will be part of the team and whoever doesn’t has a fight to get back in.
"There’s been loads of speculation, but I can’t really say anything. We will work to find a relationship with what we’ve got.”
Solskjaer could face an issue clearing out any defenders deemed surplus to requirements, with a number of them recently handed long-term deals, including Smalling, Jones and Rojo.
Lindelof has emerged as United’s stand-out option in the centre, which has led to links with Barca.
Just last week the Sweden international’s agent Hasan Cetinkaya, added to the speculation over his client’s future, saying: “Lindelof is on the radar of a great European club, but leaving United depends on the English club.”
But Lindelof insists he has no desire to leave Old Trafford, saying: “I’m very, very happy to be a Manchester United player and I’m really looking forward to this season to start.
“I always felt like a United player, but last season was a better season for me. I performed better than in my first.
“I’m happy that people think that and I’m just trying to do my best every day and that’s what I work hard for every day to help the team and the club.”
Tuanzebe is considered one of the brightest prospects on the United’s books after impressing on loan at Aston Villa.
And despite the intense competition for places in defence Solskjaer has challenged the 21-year-old to prove he can force his way into the first team picture next season.
“Axel has got a great chance of staying here and playing,” he said. “He had a great season last year. It was a stop-start season with injuries, but he’s really proven he can play at that level, he got promoted with Villa and he’s come strong. Focused.
“He did well in the first game here (against Perth Glory on Saturday) and he’s one of the exciting players that I can’t wait to see more of.”
Meanwhile Solskjaer confirmed United are close to agreeing a new contract with David de Gea.
He said: “Hopefully we can agree with David, as I’ve said a few times. That’ll be up to the club and David to announce when that happens.”
