Rio Ferdinand names the Arsenal star that Man Utd should ‘100%’ have signed

The Red Devils legend is still rueing the fact that his old club did not sign one of Arsenal’s star performers when he was available for a transfer.

Rio Ferdinand is disappointed that Manchester United didn’t try to sign Declan Rice during the summer transfer window.

United had been interested in Rice for a while, but didn’t make a move for him in the summer. Instead, Rice had two options – Manchester City or Arsenal. He chose the latter and completed a club-record £105 million transfer from West Ham.

Despite the huge fee, Arsenal are reaping the benefits of having a player of Rice’s caliber. The midfielder has been playing extremely well to help the Gunners go top of the Premier League table. His impact is unquestionable, leaving Ferdinand to ponder how Rice could have made a difference for United.

“Declan Rice, I said it before Man Utd he was the player I would’ve 100% gone and got,” Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five podcast.

“You could argue there are midfielders with more ability than him. I would argue that it’s only Jude Bellingham that comes near him in terms of being able to get into a dressing room and trying to get control of that dressing room and get the respect of that dressing room on days two, three, four, straight away.

“Not only with performances and standards and helping with the culture and the environment but the attitude and the likeability factor, the respect factor that he would get straight away.

“That’s why I thought he more than anybody it was important that Man United should’ve gone and got and they allowed Arsenal to go and get him.”

Rice has made 22 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, managing three goals and two assists. He famously scored a 97th-minute winner in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Luton Town. His goal kept Mikel Arteta’s side in first place in the Premier League, two points above Liverpool.

The Gunners return to action on Saturday away to Aston Villa in their latest Premier League fixture.