Old Trafford icon Rio Ferdinand has recommended which four players he would attempt to sign this summer if he was Ruben Amorim.
And many fans may wish the retired England defender was on the board on the back of his tips.
Ferdinand, 46, is desperate to see his old club lifted back to the place of prosperity they enjoyed during his 12 years on the books. And he laid out a blueprint of four specific targets that, if signed for their reported valuations, could set the Red Devils back around £230million this summer.
“I agree with Gary Neville that they need five players, I think they need four or five players but they will be constrained by [Profit and Sustainability Rules],” he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents show. “I want a centre midfielder to play alongside Ugarte, that player needs to be able to take the ball and transfer it through to the Bruno’s and the strikers. And you know who I’d go for? Adam Wharton.”
It wasn’t long ago that Real Madrid were linked with Wharton, whom Palace signed from Blackburn Rovers in a £22m deal. The Daily Mail reported that valuation has now supposedly risen to around £70m, which is a hefty expense for a midfielder coming off a long-term injury, particularly given Mason Mount’s struggles for fitness at Old Trafford.
He then moved onto United’s attack, where he feels the club is in need of at least two landmark signings. And one of those would be coming in as a direct replacement for the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, neither of whom have lived up to expectations at Old Trafford.
“[Victor] Osimhen. And I know, sorry Napoli and Galatasaray, if I’m Man United, Osimhen comes to Man United next year, I’m making it happen,” he continued. “Another one I’d go and buy is Cunha. He’s made it clear that he wants to leave so I’d go and get Cunha.”
Nigeria talisman Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray after failing to land a permanent move away from Napoli last summer. Ferdinand tipped United to use Alejandro Garnacho – who was linked with the Italian giants last year – to offset the cost of triggering his £64m release clause, though Napoli may no longer be as keen on the Argentinian winger.
Cunha recently disputed the notion that he had said he wants to leave the club. Instead, he took to social media to explain that a comment relaying his message that he wanted to “take the next step” was in regards to helping Wolves move up another level.
The player is known to have a £62.5m release clause in his new contract, though United may be wary in light of Cunha’s disciplinary issues, which have seen him banned for a total of six games this season. Last but not least, Ferdinand tipped his former club to recruit another asset designed to thrive in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system.
“You know who else I’d go and get? [Jeremie] Frimpong at right wing back,” he continued. Frimpong impressed at Celtic before really excelling at Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso, having previously spent nine years on the books in Manchester City’s academy.
That English connection could prove pivotal in bringing the Netherlands international back to the Premier League. Frimpong, 24, had a £33.5m release clause in his contract that expired in July 2024, though some have suggested a similar stipulation means he could be available for a similar fee once again.
