Manchester United transfer news: Wolves targeting Marcos Rojo as Jose Mourinho begins defensive reshuffle

While the Argentine has been one of Mourinho’s more trusted centre-halves, his injury record has seen him play less than the manager would have liked over the past two years

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo, as the newly-promoted side bid to push on with their lavish summer spending.

While the Argentine has been one of Jose Mourinho’s more trusted centre-halves, his injury record has seen him play less than the manager would have liked over the past two years, and the club does need to sell to facilitate moves elsewhere.

Mourinho has long wanted to discard up to six players in his squad for a more efficient set-up, and is said by sources to have been almost more frustrated with that than the lack of purchases.

Wolves have meanwhile had one of the more eye-catching windows in the Premier League, bringing in signings such as Joao Moutinho from Monaco, and the signing of a defender like Rojo would represent another upgrade in quality.

Centre-half is one of the two areas that the United boss is insistent on improving before the transfer window closes, with Toby Alderweireld still the top option, so he is thereby likely to be open to the sale of Rojo.

Regarding Alderweireld, there is now an expectation that the pursuit will go right to the end of the transfer window.

A deal so far has not happened due to the fact Tottenham would prefer Anthony Martial included in any negotiation, or for United to at the very least meet a hardline valuation of £55m.

The Old Trafford hierarchy have so far been reluctant to do either, with some of that influenced by Alderweireld’s desire to leave and an expectation that might yet change the situation or force Spurs’ hands.

With CEO Daniel Levy refusing to bow to pressure, it has led United to look at alternative options. Leicester City’s Harry Maguire is chief among those, while the club have also been looking at Internazionale’s Milan Skriniar, among a few other potential fall-backs.