Rio Ferdinand Urges Manchester United To Sign England Midfield Star

Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to look close to home and sign up an England midfielder this transfer window.

The Red Devils have already been busy in the summer market with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko and Diego Leon arriving at the club.

Two of the four players signed by manager Ruben Amorim have played Premier League football in recent seasons but former defender Ferdinand reckons that is the next route for his old club to go down.

The Prem giants need reinforcements in the midfield and Carlos Baleba is one Man Utd target at Brighton and Hove Albion who could still make the move to Old Trafford.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler reckons his player will remain at the Amex and that could scupper the Cameroonian star’s exit and, thus, United’s plan.

Rio Ferdinand tells Manchester United to sign Adam Wharton

But Ferdinand has pushed the Wharton agenda in his latest podcast episode as he compared the 21-year-old to an old teammate of his at the Theatre of Dreams while suggesting the England international is the type of profile they are crying out for.

“We’ve been talking about Baleba, he’s been the hot topic for the last month or so, but before that, Adam Wharton was one of the guys I was saying,” he said on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“He’s the nearest to a Michael Carrick type, who’s a controller, who can play, who plays forward from that deeper line position at times. He can be an eight if you need him to be and can run on at times if need be, but he’s more of a conductor and can control things.

“I watched him in a couple of games last season against big teams like Man City and Liverpool, and he looks unfazed. He looks ready for a big occasion.

Wharton compared to Manchester United hero Michael Carrick

“He enjoys pressure, can play under pressure, and the game kind of slows down when the ball is around him. I love him. I think he’s a fantastic footballer.”

Wharton could certainly do a job for Manchester United but Crystal Palace would surely be loathe to lose their man in the engine room.

The Eagles face a difficult end to the summer ahead with deals expected to go out the door at Selhurst Park.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal for Eberechi Eze in principle which would leave the Eagles short of creative flair.

And at the back they would be in a dire spot if one of their other England internationals was to leave.

It is claimed Liverpool have agreed to sign Marc Guehi in a move that would see Oliver Glasner’s team in a difficult spot.

Adding Wharton to that list of exits would be a disaster.