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MARCOS ROJO has rejected an offer to join the Chinese Super League, further complicating Jose Mourinho's efforts to rebuild his Manchester United defence.

Shanghai SIPG – coached by former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson – moved to add the Argentina international to a squad that already includes Brazil striker Hulk, but Rojo does not wish to swap the Premier League for Asian football.

United are also waiting to see if Hull City will intensify their efforts to convince Phil Jones to join the newly-promoted club on a year's loan.

Hull's proposal to Jones that he re-establish his status as one of England's leading defenders by spending a season as their starting centre back was initiated by Steve Bruce, who subsequently resigned as manager.

(Image: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)

Seriously concerned with the quality of defenders in the squad he inherited from Louis van Gaal, Mourinho is working on adding an experienced central defender and may also strengthen at right back.

He must, however, move to reduce the number of senior players at the club before spending in the transfer market again.



Rojo - deployed by Van Gaal at left and centre back - has been made available sale alongside utility player Daley Blind.

Guillermo Varela has already joined Eintracht Frankurt for a season, with fellow youngsters Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Paddy McNair also made available for loan.

(Image: VCG via Getty)

United informed Rojo that he could find himself another club shortly after Mourinho's appointment, telling the 26-year-old's representatives that they would accept an offer in the region of €12million for the player.

China's readiness to pay above market value for footballers while trebling their salaries offered the best chance of minimising the club's financial loss on the Argentine.



The Old Trafford club bought Rojo out of a complicated third-party ownership contract on Van Gaal's instruction after he caught the Dutchman's attention with his performances for Argentina at the 2014 World Cup.

The deal involved a transfer fee to Sporting of €20million plus the subsidised season loan of Nani to the Portuguese club. Rojo, however, soon fell out with Van Gaal, making just 35 Premier League starts in two seasons working under him.

(Image: 2013 Getty Images)

Sir Alex Ferguson won a six-way battle with Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham to sign Jones from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2011, utilising a release clause of £16.5m plus a £4m of performance-related variables.

Used as a centre back, full back and midfielder, Jones made 25 Premier League starts in his first season under Ferguson, only for a series of injuries to stall his progress. In his final campaign under Van Gaal, the 24-year-old started just six League games.

Mourinho has made one addition to his rearguard to date, signing Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly for an initial €35m with the aim of developing the 22-year-old into a top central defender. His options for a more seasoned defensive recruit include Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci, Southampton's Jose Fonte and Ezequiel Garay at Zenit St Petersburg.