Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested Marcos Rojo is all but certain to stay at Manchester United for the remainder of the season following another secure performance.
Rojo, 29, held talks with Everton over a possible Premier League deadline day move in August and United have explored the possibility of selling the Argentinian in four of the five summers he has been at the club.
A deal with Everton collapsed since United were only prepared to let Rojo leave permanently and Rojo has started seven times in the last two months.
The centre-back replaced Axel Tuanzebe for the draw with Liverpool last month in what remains his only league start, but Rojo has lined up in all four Europa League group games and United are yet to concede a goal in the competition.
With Eric Bailly still sidelined with a knee injury and Tuanzebe recovering from a hip strain, Rojo is United's third-choice centre-back for now and earned a recall to the Argentina squad at the start of the campaign. Solskjaer is pleased with how he has responded since pre-season.
"He was excellent tonight," Solskjaer said. "I think he has been since we started pre-season. I think he has played more than he maybe expected, that's why he's still here.
"And he is a top quality footballer. He has a winning mentality, he can pass, he can defend, it's now about keeping him fit, he's been fit for a long, long time and you can see his qualities."
When asked about Rojo's future, Solskjaer replied: "He's got such a big heart and such a passion for football and is a winner, and to have him around when he's fit and in a good mood and good form has been great for us.
"The boys love him and he spreads fear sometimes in training because he tackles properly! He's one of the ones who really, really cares about this game.
"I can play Harry [Maguire] on the left and Marcos on the right today. Victor [Lindelof] was injured, so it was there for Marcos. Axel is obviously injured, so I think he has taken his opportunities every time he's played.
"He did it against Liverpool, was fantastic, wasn't happy not to play against Bournemouth, of course, but he played well tonight."
