Marcos Rojo is set to join Argentine club Estudiantes on loan as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues his cull of Manchester United’s squad.

The Argentina defender, 29, has been given permission to leave United and is expected to return to his homeland with Estudiantes before the close of the transfer window on Friday.

Rojo has made just 12 starts for United since the surprise decision to hand the player a new three-year contract in March 2018, which officially ties him to Old Trafford until June next year and contains the option of a 12-month extension.

Poor form and a succession of injuries have curtailed Rojo’s involvement but he has been convinced by Juan Sebastian Veron, the former United and Argentina midfielder who is currently chairman of Estudiantes, that he can revive his career back home and reclaim a place in the national team ahead of this summer’s Copa America.

Solskjaer promised a “survival of the fittest” overhaul at United and Rojo becomes the latest victim of that. Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Romelu Lukaku, Ander Herrera all left permanently last year and Ashley Young departed this month for Inter Milan in a £1.3 million deal. Young and Herrera were offered new deals by United that were rejected, though. Chris Smalling and Alexis Sanchez are also on loan at Roma and Inter respectively.

A £16m signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2014 following a solid showing for Argentina at that summer’s World Cup in Brazil, Rojo proved a disappointment and troubles in his personal life earlier in his time at Old Trafford left club officials frustrated.