RED MEN WALKING EXCLUSIVE
MANCHESTER UNITED flops Nemanja Matic and Marcos Rojo have been told they can leave next month.
The two players are surplus to requirements and United executive vicechairman Ed Woodward is prepared to sell them to the highest bidder in the January transfer window.
It is understood at least two Premier League clubs are interested in Matic, while there is strong interest from abroad in Rojo.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told the pair that neither of them have longterm futures at United.
Express Sport revealed in August how Matic wanted showdown talks with Solskjaer after becoming an outcast at Old Trafford and, while discussions have taken place since, nothing has changed for the Serbia midfielder.
The 31-year-old has lost his place to Scott McTominay, and is also less than impressed with his treatment from Solskjaer since the Norwegian replaced
Jose Mourinho just over 12 months ago. Matic was close to the Portuguese after the former United manager signed him from Chelsea in a £40million deal in the summer of 2017.
He was initially a hit with the fans and cemented his place alongside
Paul Pogba.
However, following Mourinho’s sacking last December, Matic has become less and less influential under Solskjaer, right.
The former Chelsea and Benfica star has felt increasingly isolated within the group and knows he needs a new challenge as he approaches the twilight of his career.
Despite United selling Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini last summer, Matic has started just two league games this season and has made only appearances in all competitions. Solskjaer is a huge fan of McTominay and believes the Scotland international is a more mobile option than Matic in one of the defensive midfield positions.
Rojo, 29, has also found himself frozen out, having been restricted to nine outings this season.
The defender joined United in a £16m move from Sporting Lisbon in 2014 when Louis van Gaal was boss.
But he has never fully established himself in the side. Rojo, who is currently injured, was left seething when a possible transfer to Everton fell through last season.
The left-back has fallen behind Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams in the pecking order and knows he needs regular firstteam football to prolong his international career with Argentina. seven