RIO FERDINAND has named four players that Ruben Amorim must sign this summer.
The former Manchester United centre-back has identified the problem positions that he feels Amorim needs to address.
Rio Ferdinand has identified four key problem positions at Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand believes that Ruben Amorim needs serious backing this summerGetty
The Red Devils languish in the bottom half of the Premier League table – currently 13th – 15 points adrift of the top four.
United face Olympique Lyon in their crucial Europa League quarter-final clash in France on Thursday, with Europe’s secondary competition Amorim’s only chance of silverware in his first term at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese has overseen a radical shift in formation since he took over the reins from Erik ten Hag, moving from the Dutchman’s 4-2-3-1 shape to his own 3-4-2-1 system that earned him plentiful admirers at Sporting Lisbon.
He was cautiously backed in the January transfer market, with Patrick Dorgu arriving from Lecce to address the injury crisis at left wing-back, while Ayden Heaven joined from Arsenal to add youth to the central defensive ranks.
However, Ferdinand, speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents Show, believes that there are four players that could begin to turn the tide at Old Trafford and position United on a positive trajectory once again.
The six-time Premier League winner said: “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].
“I want a centre midfielder to play alongside [Manuel] Ugarte; that player needs to be able to take the ball and transfer it through to Bruno [Fernandes] and the strikers. And you know who I’d go for? Adam Wharton.”
21-year-old Wharton is currently at Crystal Palace, having arrived from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 for £22.5million, with his performances so good that he forced his way into England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Scoring goals seems to United’s biggest problem, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both struggling to shoulder the striking burden.
As such, Ferdinand has his eyes on a striker that is tearing up the Turkish Super Lig this term.
Ferdinand said: “We need [Victor] Osimhen”.
“We need experience. We need someone who knows how to score. We need someone who can come and show these young strikers at Man United how to do it.
“If I’m Man United, I’m making it happen. I want someone who knows their way around the pitch at an elite level and knows how to score at the elite level consistently. Osimhen’s done that.”
Osimhen, the 26-year-old Nigerian, scored 31 times in all competitions as Napoli ended a 33-year drought for a Serie A title in 2022-23, and he hit 17 the season after that.
However, he fell out with the Italian side, and was shipped out on loan to Galatasaray, where he has netted 26 goals for the Turkish league leaders.
Adam Wharton has caught Ferdinand’s eye
Victor Osimhen could be the answer to Man Utd’s goalscoring woesGetty
SunSport reported previously that Napoli and United could strike a stunning swap deal that sees Marcus Rashford and Osimhen move in opposite directions, when Rashford’s loan deal at Aston Villa expires at the end of the current campaign.
Ferdinand identified Matheus Cunha as his third top target, focusing on the Brazilian’s uncertain future at Wolves as a key reason to pursue a deal.
Ferdinand said: “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.”
The forward threw his future at Molineux into doubt last month, admitting that he was eyeing “the next step”, despite penning a new four-and-a-half year deal with the Black Country outfit in February.
Cunha has 13 goals in 26 Premier League appearances this term, and his goalscoring knack, as well as his versatility across the frontline, could make him an ideal signing for Amorim.
The final name that Ferdinand presented was a former Manchester City academy prospect, who has since made his name in the Bundesliga as one of the continent’s leading right wing-backs.
Ferdinand added: “You know who else I’d go and get? [Jeremie] Frimpong at right wing back.”
Frimpong, the Netherlands international, currently plies his trade at Bayer Leverkusen, and has been touted as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool.
The 24-year-old has featured 43 times in all competitions for Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga champions, laying on 11 assists and scoring four goals.
Matheus Cunha is eyeing a move away from WolvesGetty
Jeremie Frimpong has lit up the Bundesliga with LeverkusenEPA
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