Manchester United are slowly losing their grip at the top of the points table below Manchester City as they have not been able to stitch consistent victories together. Jose Mourinho is not too happy with the squad at his disposal and is looking to make a few additions for the first team, come the January transfer window.
A number of star players have been linked with a move to Old Trafford but Mourinho might also look to off-load players who do not fit under his system and one such player extensively linked with an exit is Argentine defender Marcos Rojo.
The 27-year old moved to Old Trafford back in 2014 but has not been able to cement a place in the first team under Louis van Gaal previously and Jose Mourinho now. He has made just four PL starts this season, that last of which came against Burnley on Boxing Day, where he had a nightmare, starting in at CB.
He made 18 starts in the previous season but has not impressed enough to hold on to a first team place and reports now claim that Manchester United are ready to let him leave in January. So should Rojo be sold?
Midway through the season, losing a player as versatile as Rojo could be a huge blow for the Red Devils. Capable of playing as a left-back or as a CB, Rojo is a versatile defender, with loads of experience under his belt. He has 54 caps for the Argentine national team and is the first choice defender for them.
However, he is far from the first choice for Mourinho at Old Trafford and it is better for him to search for regular game time elsewhere. But when it comes to United, they will do well to keep hold of him, atleast till the end of the season.
He is strong in hold up play and is a decent passer. He can create chances in the final third when playing as a full-back but has not done too bad as a center half. However, he is not naturally a defensive minded player and Mourinho will know that he cannot use him in crunch games.
But with injuries to key players in the backline, Mourinho could do far worse than play Rojo at CB regularly. The likes of Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are two options that have not been available for Mourinho this season due to injuries and Rojo had to cover for them in a 4-man and a 3-man backline this season.
He may not have the quality to start regularly for United but as already mentioned, losing him mid-way through the season, with no options to replace him in the transfer market, could be disastrous for the Red Devils.
