Manchester United have had a productive summer transfer window, but club legend Rio Ferdinand has been caught off guard by one of the Red Devils' most recent recruitment links
Rio Ferdinand was stunned by suggestions Manchester United could sign free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The former England international is currently without a club after his contract at Everton expired this summer.
However, the centre-forward believes a move to Old Trafford is possible and recently sacked his agent so he could potentially negotiate his own move. The Red Devils recently signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for an initial £66.4million, but they may yet need a back-up striker, with Rasmus Hojlund being linked with a move to AC Milan.
When he heard about the speculation linking Calvert-Lewin to a move to Ruben Amorim's side, Ferdinand was anything but convinced. On his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the legendary United defender was told the 28-year-old could be an option by co-host Stephen Howson, who also said the club should sign him over keeping hold of Hojlund. Baffled, Ferdinand replied: "Dominic Calvert-Lewin, what are you chatting about?"
Ferdinand also believes Amorim should put faith in 17-year-old academy graduate Chido Obi, adding: "Dominic Calvert-Lewin cannot stay fit. Why are you bringing him into this club?
"This club is built on the academy. You have Chido Obi just sitting there. Play him if you're going to think about five or six games. Not somebody who is older and cannot stay fit."
With Amorim now having Sesko, alongside new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as the existing Joshua Zirkzee, Ferdinand believes that Obi may only be required for a few matches next season. Last season saw Calvert-Lewin sidelined for 15 matches due to injury, including every match from January 26 to May 5.
He managed to net just three goals in 26 Premier League appearances for the Toffees. Back in 2019, when he was at the top of his game, United were rumoured to be considering a £50m bid for Calvert-Lewin, who has scored four times in 11 international appearances for England.
Now the situation is entirely different, with the striker currently without a club. A move to United could soon be on the cards for him, as Hojlund is reportedly open to a move to AC Milan.
The Red Devils have already splashed out over £200m on Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko and young defender Diego Leon. They've also been courting Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is thought to be valued by the Seagulls at around £100m.
Calvert-Lewin could turn out to be a cost-effective solution for Amorim and his team. United's campaign kicks off with a massive showdown against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
This is followed by a challenging away game at Fulham, before welcoming newly promoted Burnley. The pressure will then ramp up even further as they head to the Etihad Stadium for the Manchester Derby, before hosting Chelsea, who have looked formidable in the summer after clinching the Club World Cup and comfortably defeating Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in pre-season.