[h=1]Manchester United transfer news: Van Gaal could replace Rojo with Martins Indi[/h]
[h=2]Louis van Gaal could jettison Argentine defender Marcos Rojo and reunite with Bruno Martins Indi at Man Utd next year.[/h]
- 8261 Shares
- Share
- Tweet
- +1
- LinkedIn
Van Gaal has been unimpressed by Rojo's attitude and could bring in Martins Indi
Manchester United are prepared to sell
Marcos Rojo in the January transfer window and could replace him with Porto defender Bruno Martins Indi.
Rojo's relationship with
Louis van Gaal is understood to have broken down over a string of issues and the United manager has identified Dutchman Martins Indi as Rojo's ideal replacement.
Like Rojo, Martins Indi is left-footed and capable of operating at centre-back and left-back - where he recently excelled in Porto's
Champions League win over Chelsea.
United have already sent scouts to watch Martins Indi, who made his international debut under Van Gaal and played in six of the Netherlands' seven games at last year's World Cup, this season.
Martins Indi, whose contract expires in 2018, and Van Gaal enjoyed a close relationship at international level and their rapport began auspiciously during their first encounter, when Martins Indi told Van Gaal: "I would really like to become better. I would like to ask you a lot, Mr Van Gaal."
Van Gaal said: "That's a good thing, because I can help you with that."
Martins Indi replied: "Really?" before Van Gaal beamed: "I love you already, Bruno."
Van Gaal embraces Martins Indi after the Netherlands' 5-1 defeat of Spain A £16.5m signing from Sporting Lisbon, Rojo has made just two United appearances this season after falling out with Van Gaal so spectacularly he considered selling the Argentine in the transfer window.
Although Rojo had offers to leave and Monaco enquired about signing him as part of the Anthony Martial deal, Van Gaal decided to retain the 25-year-old to preserve the balance of his squad, having missed out on signing Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid.
Van Gaal was angered by Rojo's failure to link up with the United squad on their pre-season tour due to 'passport issues' and did not consider him for selection until the win over Liverpool on September 12.
Rojo looked rotund on his return to Manchester in July, having played all six of Argentina's Copa America matches, and only regained his place in the United side when Luke Shaw broke his leg at PSV Eindhoven.
De gea checks Rojo's passport at Manchester Airport He started in the win at Southampton but was substituted after 69 minutes and Rojo has played no part in United's last four matches due to injury. He was called up to the Argentina squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay this month but withdrew.
Despite Shaw's long-term absence, Phil Jones' return to fitness, Daley Blind's form at left-back last season and Ashley Young's adeptness at full-back could deny Rojo a place in the United back four.
Rojo has made just one start this season Van Gaal, who revealed he was 'enchanted' by Rojo while watching videos of him at left-back ahead of the Netherlands' World Cup semi-final with Argentina, used him primarily as a centre-back last season but cast doubt on Rojo's role in the centre of defence.
"Rojo usually plays on the left side for Argentina, so he is more usual there," Van Gaal said ahead of the Southampton game, where Rojo played at left-back.