Manchester United reportedly blocked Marcos Rojo's move to Everton.
According to The Times, Manchester United co-owners Avram and Joel Glazer personally blocked Marcos Rojo from joining Everton – because they see the Toffees as a rival for European qualification.
The Red Devils landed centre back Harry Maguire before the transfer deadline, and many felt that would lead to one of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling or Rojo leaving the club.
Rojo had a late offer to join Everton, which would have involved reuniting with boss Marco Silva, having briefly worked together at Sporting before the defender's 2014 move to United.
However, United pulled the plug on a deadline day move, and it's now claimed that the Glazers blocked the move because they didn't want to strengthen a direct rival for European football.
That left Rojo frustrated, especially as he had a shot at first-team football with Everton as a Kurt Zouma replacement, but that Glazer stance is particularly interesting.
Everton finished two places and 14 points adrift of United in the table last season, and they haven't been able to splash out on Maguire or Aaron Wan-Bissaka to close the gap.
Marcel Brands has added a few new faces in Fabian Delph, Djibril Sidibe, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean, and some have tentatively tipped Everton for a top six push.
United are aiming higher than that though, looking for a top four finish. That they see Everton as a direct rival is a sign of the progress Everton are making under Brands, a glimpse of how they're now being perceived by their Premier League rivals and ultimately a major compliment – but it may not cushion the blow of missing out on Rojo.
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