Both Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund may have run out of road in the Premier League but, in the view of Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, a departure from English football not be a bad thing for either player.
As Serie A giants Juventus look to beat Napoli to Sancho’s signature – further talks were held with the Bianconeri this week – Ferdinand feels that taking the Scott McTominay route to Italy would maybe benefit a winger who has always seemed at odds with the rigours of English football.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce made progress in pursuit of Jadon Sancho too in recent days.
After Chelsea opted against triggering the £25 million purchase clause in his contract, Manchester United are desperate to draw a line under his disastrous stint at Old Trafford.
Sancho has averaged a goal or an assist every 3.8 games in the Premier League. Rasmus Hojlund’s own record – 62 appearances, 14 goals – does not make for particularly pretty reading either.
Man United have made Hojlund available for £40 million this summer. The Dane could join Sancho and McTominay in Italy, too. Inter Milan have held talks with the ex-Atalanta starlet, while Hojlund is intrigued by the idea of joining Napoli and reuniting with at least one former Red Devils teammate.
And as far as Ferdinand is concerned, this may be the right time for all parties to go their separate ways.
Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund get Manchester United advice from Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand, a Champions League and six-time Premier League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson, feels it is no coincidence that Sancho’s best performances came during two separate spells outside of English football with Borussia Dortmund.
“I think anywhere out of Man United is a good deal,” Ferdinand begins. “I think he needs a permanent deal. Get out, clear your head, it hasn’t worked out for you. Go to a new club, start again, start fresh.
“But he’s got to deliver. He’s got to deliver now. Those stats [at Chelsea] do not read well. I saw glimpses at Dortmund [during a loan spell in 2023/24] when I thought he was back!
“I think he needs to go to a league that supports his style of playing football. The game can’t be as fast as it is in the Premier League for him. He needs to play in a team that retains possession, to have runners around him. He needs quite a few things, I think, to be able to perform and he’s not going to get that in the Premier League.
“If this move to Fenerbahce comes off, I just hope he takes this opportunity and it comes off for him.”
Ferdinand suggests Hojlund must leave if United sign Viktor Gyokeres
Ferdinand is not quite so scorched earth in his assessment of Hojlund.
The former West Ham, Tottenham and England defender believes that there may still be a role for Hojlund at Old Trafford. But only if Man United sign an older, more established centre-forward such as a Viktor Gyokeres or a Victor Osimhen.
Thus, allowing Hojlund the chance to learn alongside one of the game’s elite finishers on the training pitch while also reducing the goalscoring burden on his still-broadening shoulders.
“If Man United go out and get an experienced number nine, I think he should stay,” Ferdinand argues. “If it’s not [an experienced number nine], he should go and get experience somewhere else.”
United in Focus understands that, during talks with Inter Milan, Man United turned down the chance to sign Mehdi Taremi in exchange for Hojlund.
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