Manchester United targeting Tottenham's Danny Rose as Jose Mourinho sets focus on full-backs

Manchester United are considering a move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose in the January transfer window as manager Jose Mourinho seeks to bolster his options at full-back with a seasoned Premier League performer.

Under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino, Rose has developed into of the best full-backs in the Premier League, but his relationship with the Argentine seems to have soured in recent months. Rose's summer comments about his willingness to leave Spurs in order to win trophies predictably did not go down well with Pochettino, who has seen fit to omit the England international from some of his recent match-day squads.

Rose's exclusion combined with his interview about winning silverware and openness to relocating up north displeased Tottenham but presumably encouraged United, who were linked with the former Sunderland loanee in the summer.

Mourinho's men are in need of a new left-back, with Luke Shaw's career at United all but over and utility player Ashley Young entering the twilight of his career, and the Portuguese is now prioritising a move for a left-back over efforts for Valencia's Carlos Soler and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, according to The Independent.

Soler has been one of the driving forces behind Valencia's fine start to the season and has garnered an admirer in Mourinho with his impressive performances for Los Che. United may be able to use Andreas Pereira, who is on loan at Valencia until the end of the season, as leverage in a deal for Soler, but any attempt to bring the 20-year-old to Old Trafford will have to wait until the end of the season, as will a move for Arsenal's Ozil.

United are not willing to pay a fee for the 29-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, and are prepared to wait until the German is a free agent before trying to snaffle him from under the nose of Barcelona.

Mourinho holds interest in both Soler and Ozil, but Rose is said to be his top priority ahead of the January window. Tottenham sold Kyle Walker to United's rivals Manchester City for over £50m in the summer transfer window and would look to command a similar fee should they decide to part with the 27-year-old. But Red Devils are hoping to negotiate a lower price due to his lack of minutes this year.

United could have also thought to exploit Tottenham's apparent interest in Shaw, who worked with Pochettino while at Southampton, but Spurs are not keen on a part-exchange deal involving in the seven-time England international.