Rio Ferdinand names FOUR summer signings Man United should target as part of Ruben Amorim’s rebuild

Man United legend Rio Ferdinand has provided Ruben Amorim with a shopping list of four stars he should target this summer.

The Red Devils are in desperate need of overhaul after a miserable season which began under Erik ten Hag and is set to finish under Amorim.

Sunday’s drab Manchester derby draw with rivals City leaves the club 13th in the Premier League table and out of every other competition apart from the Europa League. 

Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles at Old Trafford, is desperate for his former side to compete for trophies again and has listed the players he believes can help get Man United back on track. 

‘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 [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.’

Rio Ferdinand layed out his transfer plans to get Man United back on track next season

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton looks like he has put his injury woes behind him

It’s been a tough season for Ruben Amorim who will hope he can shape the squad this summer

Wharton, 21, was a revelation at Crystal Palace after joining last year, taking to life in the Premier League seamlessly following his £22.5million move from Championship side Blackburn.

So impressive was Wharton’s form that he forced his name into former England boss Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of the Euros, making his debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina last June before being named in his final squad for last summer’s tournament in Germany.

Wharton reported back from Three Lions duty with injury and was able to play through the pain until October, when the pain in his hip and groin became unmanageable and required surgery.

He has been tracked by Real Madrid scouts since his return to first-team action in February and looks to have put his injury woes behind him.  

Ferdinand next turned his attention to a centre forward where Man United arguably have their biggest problem. 

The Red Devils have scored just 37 Premier League goals this season, fewer than the likes of Tottenham (58) and Wolves (43) who sit below them in the table. 

And £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund went 22 hours and 19 minutes without a goal before finding the back of the net in last month’s 3-0 victory at Leicester. 

‘We need [Victor] Osimhen’, said Ferdinand. 

Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray this season

Rasmus Hojlund endured a goal drought of over 22 hours before scoring against Leicester

Osimhen, 26, scored 31 goals in all competitions as he fired Napoli to the Serie A title last year

‘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, 26, scored 31 goals in all competitions as he fired Napoli to a first Serie A title in 33 years in the 2022-23 season.

The Nigerian followed that up with another 17 last season and this campaign he has bagged 26 on loan at Galatasaray, who are running away with the Turkish league.

Osimhen has a £63m release clause but Man United would likely face fiece competition to land him with reports in Italy claiming that Arsenal, Juventus, Barcelona and Galatasaray are all interested.

For his third target, Ferdinand looked closer to home. 

‘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.’

Although Wolves star Matheus Cunha signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract in February he has indeed made some ambigious comments about his future.

Matheus Cunha signed a new deal at Wolves in February but has hinted that he wants to leave

Rio Ferdinand believes Jeremie Frimpong would be an upgrade for Man United at right back

Diogo Dalot currently plays in that position at Old Trafford but the Portuguese hasn’t convinced

Just last month, he put suitors on alert when he told The Guardian that he wanted to ‘take the next step’ and fight for titles. 

The Brazilian has since taken to social media to claim that he meant he wanted to help take Wolves to another level but his ambition will have been noted.

The final area that Ferdinand believes Amorim needs to look at is right back. 

Diogo Dalot has filled that position for Man United this season but has failed to convince fans that he is the long-term answer. 

‘You know who else I’d go and get? [Jeremie] Frimpong at right wing back,’ Ferdinand said.   

Frimpong has thrived at Bayer Leverkusen under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso. The former Celtic star is a product of Man City’s academy. 

Liverpool have been mooted as a potential suitors for Frimpong though sources close to the English leaders have played this down.