Rio Ferdinand has revealed why he thinks Manchester United made the right call in not signing one attacking talent for Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad this summer.
Ruben Amorim is expected to have a busy summer ahead of him at Old Trafford after the transfer window opened in June and with pre-season looming in July.
The 40-year-old United manager will welcome new signings at the Premier League club and also see the departure of current players from the United first-team squad.
The Red Devils have already been busy in the summer transfer window after an abysmal 2024-25 season and United have signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves.
Matheus Cunha had been linked with United and the Red Devils triggered the £62.5m release clause in the 26-year-old Brazil international’s Wolves contract.
Bryan Mbeumo has attracted transfer interest from United and the 25-year-old Brentford star is believed to be interested in a move to Old Trafford this summer.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesRio Ferdinand speaks out on Liam Delap leaving Ipswich Town for Chelsea instead of Man Utd
Liam Delap had been linked with Manchester United and the 22-year-old striker had been tipped to leave Ipswich Town in the summer after the club were relegated.
The ex-United target’s £30m release clause became active after it was confirmed that Kieran McKenna’s men would be playing in the Championship next season.
United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest were all interested in Liam Delap and Chelsea are set to land the former Manchester City player this summer.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand believes that United don’t need Delap when Ruben Amorim has Red Devils talent Chido Obi among his ranks.
“I think Liam Delap is a wonderful young player with huge potential,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“But I felt him coming to United now would be the wrong fit for both him and the club. United need experience, not another young centre forward.
“I’ve always said, young centre forwards coming to big clubs like United need to learn from experienced players. We’ve seen it with someone like [Wayne] Rooney learning from more experienced players.
“That always needs to happen and United are in a position where we have Chido [Obi-Martin], a young forward, one of the best young strikers about at the moment.”
Rio Ferdinand’s feelings on Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund amid Chelsea signing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town
Ferdinand singled out Rasmus Hojlund and highlighted the need for the 22-year-old Danish striker getting someone to learn from after United snubbed Liam Delap.
“We’ve got [Rasmus] Hojlund who’s been there for two years and what a vulnerable place that’s been,” he said.
“He’s had no-one to lean on in that position or to look at for an example.
“He hasn’t had that man and that’s a big worry for me. If you invest £75m in a player, you need to put the things around him to let him grow and he hasn’t had that.
“This is no slight on Liam Delap, who looks like he’s going [to] Chelsea. But Manchester United need to go and get an experienced striker to help the current forwards they’ve got at the club.”
Rasmus Hojlund, who has been linked with Inter Milan, only scored 10 times and registered four assists in 52 matches across all competitions in the 2024-25 season.