Solskjaer instructed to sell THREE players to fund defender’s transfer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been instructed to sell as many as three Manchester United players to free up funds for a new centre-back.

As reported by Mirror Sport, Manchester United are in the market for a new defender and have identified Jules Kounde as a top target.

The Sevilla centre-back will set the Red Devils back around £60million, and Ed Woodward is keen for Solskjaer to move on the deadwood before splashing more cash.

The players on the chopping block are: Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero.

Argentine defender Rojo looks certain to leave Manchester United before the January window slams shut on February 1.

The centre-back, who has been left out of United's Premier League and Champions League teams this season, is strongly linked with a move to Alaves.

Goalkeeper Romero is also destined for the Old Trafford exit this month, with a move back to Argentina on the cards for the 33-year-old.

Jones has been frozen out at Manchester United under Solskjaer but has not generated interest from other clubs and looks set to stay at Old Trafford this month.

Solskjaer can look to part company with him in the summer to get him off United's wage bill in order to balance the books ahead of splashing more cash.

Kounde has been earmarked as a perfect partner for captain Harry Maguire.

But the 22-year-old centre-back, who joined Sevilla from Bordeaux 18 months ago, is recognised as one of La Liga's brightest young talents.

And as a result, there are a queue of clubs monitoring the young Frenchman's progress, including Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid.