Rio Ferdinand 'disagrees massively' with Manchester United transfer move

Rio Ferdinand discussing Manchester United (Picture: YouTube)

Rio Ferdinand ‘disagrees massively’ with Manchester United’s reported pursuit of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and says it would be a mistake to bring the England striker to Old Trafford.

United completed a £74m deal for Benjamin Sesko last week and the Slovenia international is set to be Ruben Amorim’s first-choice striker this season.

Sesko scored 21 goals for RB Leipzig last season and was pursued by Arsenal and Newcastle United earlier in the summer.

Despite the arrival of Sesko, Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for free agent Calvert-Lewin to add more depth to Ruben Amorim’s attacking options.

Calvert-Lewin, 28, is still searching for a new club after ending his nine-year spell at Everton at the end of last season.

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It was reported earlier this week that Manchester United were one of three clubs to hold talks with Calvert-Lewin along with Newcastle and Leeds.

But when the England international was named as a potential United target on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: ‘Dominic Calvert-Lewin? What are you chatting about bruv?

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a free agent following his Everton exit (Picture: Getty)

‘Calvert-Lewin can’t stay fit. No. Why would we bring him in to this club? This club is built on the academy and we’ve got Chido Obi sitting there. Play him if you just need someone for a few games rather than someone who’s older and can’t stay fit.

‘Sign Calvert-Lewin? On what grounds? No, I’m sorry, I disagree massively, I disagree massively. What message does that send to the rest of the Premier League or more importantly to your squad?’

United’s reported interest in Calvert-Lewin comes as the club prepare to offload Rasmus Hojlund, who is closing in on a move to AC Milan.

Man Utd’s new first-choice striker Benjamin Sesko (Picture: Getty)

Hojlund, who scored just four goals in the Premier League last season, said he intended to stay at the club and fight for a place in the team during United’s pre-season tour of the States.

But the 22-year-old has reluctantly agreed to leave following the arrival of Sesko and looks set to return to Serie A.

Joshua Zirzkee was also linked with a move away from Old Trafford earlier in the summer but now looks set to stay put.

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But Manchester United are hoping to sanction several more sales before the transfer deadline, with Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony all part of Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’.

Garnacho has already given the green light to a move to Chelsea but the Stamford Bridge club are yet to agree terms with United.

Sancho has held talks with a number of clubs in Italy – most recently Roma – while Besiktas have confirmed they are interested in signing the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Antony, meanwhile, has rejected offers from Brazil and Saudi Arabia as he intends to remain in Europe and is pushing for a return to Real Betis, where he impressed last season on loan.

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