Manchester United not planning to sign central defender despite Rojo injury — reports

We don't yet know how long Marcos Rojo will be out for, but according to the Guardian, Manchester United are not planning to reinforce the centre of their defence this January.

With Rojo crocked and Eric Bailly off with Cote d'Ivoire, United have only Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, plus occasional defender Daley Blind, as their options for this week's League Cup semi-final against Hull City and Sunday's moderately sizeable game against Liverpool. But despite this, according to the paper, "Rojo’s injury has not changed Mourinho’s strategy regarding strengthening his central defensive department." They do add, however, that "any further setback may force him to rethink".

So it looks like we could be in for a quiet January, with any move for Victor Lindelof will have to wait until summer at the earliest, and no interest in Southampton's Jose Fonte.

Alternatively, the Guardian are talking through their hat. Apparently this rather peculiar phrase may derive from the habit of impious men to hold their hats before their mouth while pretending to pray, so as to appear deep in reverent contemplation.