Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has made his feelings clear about the Red Devils being linked with a legendary player that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign.
United manager Erik ten Hag recently talked up the club’s transfer activity last January after Marcel Sabitzer, Wout Weghorst and Jack Butland arrived on loan.
Ten Hag has had to comprehend with injuries to his first-team squad this season and the United boss has struggled at times without key players at his disposal.
United need to work within the realm of the Premier League’s financial fair play regulations and a new signing could be difficult if players aren’t sold first.
The Red Devils could potentially bring in new players on loan in a bid to reinforce Ten Hag’s squad, with the United boss lacking additional striking options.
United have shipped off Hannibal Mejbri on loan to Sevilla – with an option to buy for a reported £17.2m – and Facundo Pellistri has been linked with a move away.
However, United have been linked with the signing of one striker that legendary former Red Devils manager Ferguson wanted during his time at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand on Karim Benzema to United
Karim Benzema has been heavily linked with a move to United in recent weeks amid uncertainty over his future at Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.
Ferdinand insisted that a move for the 36-year-old French striker wouldn’t be out of place for United considering the Premier League club’s run of transfer business.
“That’s just going back to old, what we’ve been doing before,” he said on his VIBE with FIVE show.
“We’ve done it with Cristiano [Ronaldo], we’ve done it with Falcao, we’ve done it with [Edinson] Cavani, we’ve done it with Zlatan [Ibrahimovic].
“Listen, Benzema… how can you say no? How can you say no to that signing?”
Ferdinand on who benefits from Benzema signing
Benzema left Real Madrid last summer and completed a sensational free transfer to Al Ittihad, with the former France striker inheriting the captain’s armband.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner was a player that Ferguson admired and the United legend’s efforts to bring Benzema to Old Trafford were thwarted in the past.
Benzema’s spell at Al Ittihad has been plunged into doubt amid a rift with manager Marcelo Gallardo after he reportedly failed to show up for the club’s pre-season training camp.
Ferdinand believes that Rasmus Hojlund would benefit from the signing of Benzema and it would allow the United striker to have “somebody to look and learn from.”
“One thing I would say, one person who needs that more than anyone else around right now Rasmus Hojlund,” he added on his YouTube channel.
“Hojlund needs that somebody to look and learn from.
“I remember when we had Danny Welbeck coming into the first team and he’s looking up to Cristiano, [Wayne] Rooney, [Carlos] Tevez and those guys.
“Diego Forlan comes in, a young Uruguayan striker, and you’ve got Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy he’s backing up.
“Chicharito, the same thing, they’re looking on and going, ‘That’s what a real striker is! That is how a true No 9 operates and I’m going to follow that.’ Hojlund is looking at himself in the mirror! That’s it.”
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