ASTON VILLA have joined Everton in the race to sign Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo.

The Argentina international, 29, will be allowed to leave Old Trafford after the arrival of Harry Maguire.

Rojo is rated at £25million but clubs could do a deal for a season-long loan.

With SEVEN centre-backs at the club, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nevertheless rejected the chance to loan Chris Smalling to the Toffees on Wednesday.

Rojo's case is thought to be different as he is far from first-choice and has suffered a number injuries during his time at Old Trafford.

Since signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2014, the Argentine has played 113 times for the club – far behind the 200 appearances Smalling has accrued in the same period.

Solskjaer is expected to deploy Victor Lindelof alongside Maguire at the heart of his defence this season with Smalling as first reserve.

That drops Rojo down the pecking order and the player was said earlier in the summer to be considering an exit if that came to pass.

And the Argentine only appeared three times for Solskjaer last campaign, two appearances coming off the bench.

Villa have been one of Europe's biggest spenders on their return to the Premier League, topping £100m on the likes of Wesley, Tyrone Mings and Douglas Luiz.

Everton, meanwhile, signed Djibril Sidibe on Wednesday night to make it six signings for the summer – and will spend deadline day fighting to sign Wilfried Zaha.

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