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Marcos Rojo fears for Man Utd future as Jose Mourinho makes new centre-back main objective

Rojo is not in America on United's pre-season tour as he is receiving treatment for an unspecified injury  - Manchester United
Rojo is not in America on United's pre-season tour as he is receiving treatment for an unspecified injury - Manchester United

Marcus Rojo fears he will be the odd man out at Manchester United this summer as Jose Mourinho has made the signing of a new centre back his main objective before the close of the summer transfer window.

Rojo is not due to link up with the rest of the United squad in the USA as he is receiving treatment for an unspecified injury and he will seek clarification on his future as soon as Mourinho returns to Manchester next week.

The Argentina international, who scored the goal that secured qualification from the group stage at the World Cup, has not been assured of a first-team role under Mourinho and his camp suspect the club will look to sell him to make room for a new face in defence.

Whether that is true will ultimately depend on United’s success in signing a replacement and Leicester City are determined to hold on to their first-choice target, England international Harry Maguire, which could earn Rojo a reprieve.

Even if United can lure him away from Leicester, there is no guarantee there will be enough time left in the window to find a buyer, particularly as Rojo earns in excess of £100,000-a-week.

Jose Mourinho looks on - Credit: Getty Images
Jose Mourinho wants to strengthen his defence in the transfer window Credit: Getty Images

As things stand, Mourinho is trying to crank up the pressure on the United hierarchy to deliver the players he wants to strengthen the squad before the start of the new season.

The Portuguese refused to answer a question ahead of United’s friendly against AC Milan on Wednesday night about whether the squad, in its current form, could mount a title challenge.

Premier League summer transfer window ins and outs

He has also declared that, if he does not get another two players, thought to be Maguire and Croatia international Ivan Perisic. The latter’s excellent form at the World Cup, as Croatia reached their first World Cup final, has not made that deal any easier to agree with current club Inter Milan.