Rojo to join Veron’s Estudiantes on loan as Solskjaer continues cull

Marcos Rojo is 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 and is expected to join Estudiantes before the close of the transfer window tomorrow.

Rojo has made just 12 starts since the surprise decision to hand him 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 injuries have curtailed Rojo’s involvement, but he has been convinced by Juan Sebastian Veron, the former United and Argentina midfielder who is chairman of Estudiantes, that he can revive his career at home and reclaim a place in the national team ahead of this summer’s Copa America.

Rojo is the latest victim of the “survival of the fittest” overhaul

Out of favour: Marcos Rojo has suffered from poor form and injuries at United promised by Solskjaer, the United manager. Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera left last year and Ashley Young departed this month for Inter Milan.

Chris Smalling and Alexis

Sanchez are also on loan at Roma and Inter respectively.

A £16million signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2014 following a solid showing 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 officials frustrated.

It reflected United’s poor recruitment that the club were unaware at the time of his signing that Rojo was being investigated by police for an alleged bottle attack on a neighbour in Argentina and faced the possibility of a criminal trial. Rojo ended up settling out of court.

Rojo had been due to join Everton in a season-long loan last summer with the option of a permanent move to Goodison Park, but a deal fell through. Sporting were also interested in re-signing him as part of the Bruno Fernandes negotiations, but talks went nowhere.

Meanwhile, Nathan Bishop, the Southend and England Under-20 goalkeeper, was having a medical at Carrington yesterday ahead of a move to United.

Bruno Fernandes’s display against PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League in November – when he scored twice in a 4-0 win – gave a glimpse of his ability. His touch map shows that, while deployed largely on the right, he is effective when given licence to roam. He is also happy to drop deep to receive possession and act as a link between defence and attack. Flying: Bruno Fernandes has impressed for Sporting