Manchester United’s first January exit seems imminent as Morgan Schneiderlin told the club he wants to join Everton. Everton are set to make an improved £22m bid for the Frenchman within the next 48 hours after United rejected their initial £19m bid, according to Squawka. The Red Devils are holding out for £24m – the amount the paid Southampton for Schneiderlin two and a half years ago – with West Brom also keen having had an £18m bid rejected. Mourinho insists he's not in the market for a new defender

However, Everton are hoping the £22m bid will tempt United to settle, with Schneiderlin’s desire to move to Goodison Park over the Hawthorns to help push the deal over the line. An arrival at Old Trafford could be the return of former left-back Patrice Evra, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport. Ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand teased his “homecoming” on Instagram this week, although it is reported that Evra will return in a coaching capacity, rather than as a solution to Jose Mourinho’s full-back troubles. Evra had expected to play more than he has this season and at 35 years old he is seemingly ready to accept his playing days are coming to an end.

The Manchester Evening News report that Mourinho will not allow 19-year-old Timothy Fosu-Mensah to leave the club in January, despite him starting only two games this season.  Mourinho wants to keep the majority of his first-team squad together as his builds for an important second half to the season where United will compete on four fronts. Fosu-Mensah is versatile and with Eric Bailly going to the Africa Cup of Nations and Schneiderlin to be sold, he may be needed to fill in in either position.