Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind face exit as Manchester United target Antonio Rudiger

Manchester United stars are facing the axe as Jose Mourinho plots a revamp of his defence.

Chris Smalling and Daley Blind’s futures at the club are under a cloud, with Mourinho targeting a centre back and a right back in January.

Work behind the scenes has already begun identifying defensive reinforcements as the Portuguese manager plans big changes to his back four just nine games into the Premier League season. 

Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling (left) and Daley Blind (right) are facing the axe

Blind and Smalling face an uncertain future with Jose Mourinho looking to revamp his defence

Eric Bailly, who is out for two months with a knee injury, has impressed the United manager since arriving from Villarreal and his position at centre half appears secure.

United have conceded 12 goals in the Premier League this season, the second most of any club in the top 10. Four of those came in the humiliating loss at Chelsea last Sunday, in which Smalling and Blind were well below-par.

Smalling made a bad mistake as Pedro scored after just 30 seconds and Mourinho is said to have berated the England international after the game.

Mourinho also wants a natural right back to compete with Antonio Valencia, who is more accustomed to playing in a wide midfield role.

United will consider selling Rojo and Italy right back Matteo Darmian when the transfer window re-opens, while left back Luke Shaw is yet to fully convince Mourinho either.

The Red Devils will also consider selling centre Marcos Rojo who has failed to impress

Roma defender Antonio Rudiger, who can play right back or centre half, is under consideration at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old Germany international, who is also on Chelsea’s radar, is fit again after a serious knee injury and will be watched regularly by United spies between now and the winter window.

Roma want to keep Rudiger, regarded as one of the best young centre backs in Europe, but an offer of £35million could tempt the Serie A club.

United are targeting £35million-rated Roma centre back Antonio Rudiger (centre)

United are also struggling at the other end of the pitch, and several members of the squad believe Wayne Rooney should be given the chance to re-assert his position as the club’s No 1 striker.

Rooney, who has missed the last two games through injury, had been used in an attacking midfield role and then dropped by Mourinho.

But a number of his team-mates believe the 31-year-old can still have a major impact in the No 9 role.

After scoring four in four at the start of his United career, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has gone off the boil, failing to score in his last five Premier League games.

Several members of the United squad believe Wayne Rooney deserves a chance upfront