Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to prioritise signing two midfielders this summer, as well as recruiting in two other positions.
The Red Devils sit third in the Premier League table with seven matches left – after a revival under interim head coach Michael Carrick – as they battle to secure a Champions League spot next season.
Carrick’s audition for the full-time position in the dugout has been impressive – United have lost just once since his arrival, winning seven matches. But it remains to be seen whether the hierarchy at Old Trafford will give him the permanent position.
Neverthless, Ferdinand has his eyes set on the summer, and how United can improve their team whoever is in charge next season.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, he said: ‘If United go and get four players in the next window and two of those are starters, then I think that’s a realistic transfer window.
‘If I was the club, my priorities would be two central midfielders, one who starts and maybe a younger one who you can blood in here and there around Bruno [Fernandes], Kobbie [Mainoo] and the one you bring in.
Rio Ferdinand feels Manchester United need two midfielders, a full-back and a forward in the summer
United have been linked to Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali (left) but Ferdinand thinks they should go for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson (right)
‘I would also go for another forward, a younger one who is going to be more of a back-up to what we’ve already got. And I would go for a full-back.
‘That’s it. I know you can say you want 10 new players and most positions can be improved but I don’t think you need a huge revamp, it’s still a lot but that’s realistic.’
United have been linked with a whole host of names since January, including Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
It was revealed yesterday that should Newcastle miss out on a top-five finish, and because of financial governance across domestic and European competitions, only a significant sale or sales, such as Tonali, would free up funds for transfer outlay and wages.
However, Ferdiand believes that United should be focusing on trying to lure former Magpie and Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson to Old Trafford instead.
He continued: ‘Beginning of the season everyone was talking about [Carlos] Baleba, he seems to have gone off the boil a little bit form wise.
‘Elliot Anderson, he seems to have jumped to the front of the queue. I think he’s a wonderful player. I think Elliot Anderson is the right type not only of player but character, I think he’d be a good addition to the squad.
‘But I just think the type of midfielder United need is somebody who is a bit more all-action, who can cover ground, who is dynamic, who is robust, strong, who can drive a team.
‘Right now Anderson seems to be ticking those boxes. But I think there are a few other young guns out there – I won’t mention their names yet because I don’t want anyone else to get on that scent.’
