Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has reportedly told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to offload a trio of players in order to fund a move for a new centre-back.

The Red Devils did not bolster their ranks in the heart of defence during the summer transfer window, but they have supposedly set their sights on Sevilla's Jules Kounde for 2021.

However, the Frenchman is expected to command a £60m fee, with United unlikely to fork out such a figure unless players on the periphery can be moved on first.

As a result, The Mirror claims that Woodward has told Solskjaer to do away with three out-of-favour players at Old Trafford before their pursuit of Kounde can gather pace.

The report claims that Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo are expected to head for the exit door within the next 24 hours, and while Phil Jones is unlikely to leave before Monday's deadline, he will probably call time on his Man United career in the summer.

Kounde has supposedly emerged as the Red Devils' priority defensive target, but Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all believed to be in the hunt for his signature as well.