Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho chose to give Liverpool signing Fabinho a swerve because of his versatility, it has been claimed.

The Manchester Evening News says the suggestion the Brazilian rejected an approach from United at any stage is false.

United manager Mourinho had ruled out a move for Fabinho, having identified Tottenham's Eric Dier and Nemanja Matic as his first and second-choice defensive midfield targets.

Mourinho's preference was to recruit an established Premier League player and Fabinho was also partly dismissed because he was a converted midfielder, having begun his Monaco career at right-back.

Fabinho joined Liverpool from Monaco on Monday night in a deal worth £39million.