Marcos Rojo is likely to be the first casualty of Manchester United’s plans to strengthen their defence. United’s priority in the transfer market is to sign a pedigree centre-half and Rojo is considered the most expendable among the club’s five existing central defenders over the next seven months.

Rojo left United’s Dubai training camp prematurely last week in order to return home to Argentina, with interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitting the player needed to clear his head as he struggles to regain his fitness after a series of injury troubles.

Rojo has played just 149 minutes this season and has not been seen since he was substituted at half-time of the 2-1 Champions League defeat to Valencia in Spain on Dec 12.

The Argentine’s injury problems have complicated the prospect of him being sold this month but the player - who will be 29 in March - is likely to make way in the summer when United are expected to bring in a new centre-half.

With Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones on the books in addition to Rojo, United have no intention of stockpiling defenders and will seek to clear space on the wage bill, which is the largest in the Premier League.