Rio Ferdinand urges Man Utd star to accept transfer offer and backs £120m signing

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand has urged Rasmus Hojlund to accept an offer to leave Manchester United and backed Ruben Amorim’s audacious move for Brighton star Carlos Baleba.

Hojlund has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford since United completed a £74m deal for Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko.

Sesko, who became Amorim’s third summer signing following Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, is set to be United’s first-choice striker this season.

Speaking from United’s pre-season tour last month, Hojlund insisted he intended to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place in the team.

That appears to still be his preference despite the arrival of Sesko and concrete interest from Serie A giants AC Milan.

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Milan are keen to sign the Denmark international on loan but Hojlund is yet to agree to the move and his apparent reservation threatens to force the Italians to pull out and look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements.

Ferdinand believes Hojlund should accept the offer, however, and says he would benefit to a return to Italy, where he spent a season before moving to Manchester.

Rasmus Hojlund has received an offer to leave Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

‘The reports are that Hojlund is talking to Milan about a loan move,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘They’re covering all of his wages and a loan fee, which will help United’s financial situation. I think Rasmus Hojlund has to go out on loan.

‘I think if I was him, I’d definitely want to go out on loan, minimum – for a fresh start. Italy, he knows the place and did well out there.

‘I think it would be a good move for him. Milan would be good for him and who knows what could happen when he comes back to United?’

Ferdinand backs £120m move for Baleba

Ferdinand has also backed Manchester United’s audacious move to sign Baleba from Brighton.

Brighton’s staggering asking price for the midfielder was expected to put United off a deal but it was reported on Wednesday that the Red Devils were looking into ways to make the deal work.

‘They’re going to have to work some magic here,’ Ferdinand said of United’s pursuit of Baleba.

‘It will be some window if they get Baleba to cap it off because they would have signed four machines physically. That’s been a massive weakness in this squad for too long.

United target and Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba (Picture: Getty)

‘Baleba is a young kid but he’s a wonderful talent with a high ceiling. I’m not saying you buy him and he’s the answer straight away and the key to the team, I’m not saying that.

‘He will need to be developed and integrated into the system. But he is something different to everything we’ve got and that difference is what’s needed to push this squad on.

‘If he comes in I think he will be a breath of fresh air. My biggest fear is if United don’t get him this window, other teams will be at the table next summer with their chequebooks out and Brighton will be demanding even more money.’

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Manchester United have spent almost £200m so far this summer on Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo.

The Red Devils finished just 15th in the Premier League last season and begin their 2025-26 campaign on Sunday against Arsenal.

Sesko is expected to start for the hosts despite only recently joining, while Andre Onana is believed to be fit after missing the entirety of pre-season through injury.

Arsenal finished second last season and have been strengthened by the signings of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke.

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