Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo failed to join Everton on loan because the Glazers demanded a permanent deal for the Argentine. Rojo, 29, was all set to swap Manchester for Merseyside earlier this month after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signalled he is not in United’s plans. The versatile ace travelled to Everton’s Finch Farm training ground to undergo a medical ahead of his prospective season-long switch. However, the deal fell through at the last minute - leaving Rojo in limbo and Everton short of the defensive cover they needed.

The London Evening Standard have now shed some light on what happened, with the Glazers reportedly to blame. Manchester United’s owners are said to have blocked the initial loan move at the last minute, just as Rojo was poised to go. And they apparently did so because they were demanding a permanent £25m fee be handed over for the beaten 2014 World Cup finalist. The Glazers wanted a permanent transfer to go through because they see Everton as a direct rival in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top six.

How the Glazers stepped in and stopped Man Utd exit happening on transfer deadline day

How the Glazers stepped in and stopped Man Utd exit happening on transfer deadline day

Everton, though, were unwilling to do business on those terms and Rojo subsequently returned to United’s Carrington base. Rojo is unlikely to figure for United this term with a cluster of defenders ahead of him in the pecking order. Harry Maguire’s world-record £80m arrival shunted him further to the fringes of Solskjaer’s field of vision. Maguire is expected to form a formidable partnership with Victor Lindelof in the heart of United’s defence.

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How the Glazers stepped in and stopped Man Utd exit happening on transfer deadline day