Man Utd urged by Rio Ferdinand to raid relegated club to make ‘Chris Smalling-type signing’

Rio Ferdinand has encouraged Man Utd to sign Norwich defender Max Aarons this summer, as he would “have an impact”.

Aarons started his career at Luton Town but he has been with Norwich City since 2016.

The 22-year-old has already played 165 times for the Canaries. He has been a key player for them for their last four seasons.

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Aarons featured 34 times for Norwich in the league in 2021/22 as they were relegated back down to the Championship.

It was reported last month that Man Utd are interested in signing the right-back.

Smalling signed for the Red Devils in 2010 from Fulham. The Cottagers were then a mid-table Premier League side.

Ferdinand thinks Aarons could “have an impact” like Smalling did twelve years ago:

“Someone like Max Aarons you could put him like a Chris Smalling-type signing where they come in and they have an impact,” Ferdinand said via his Vibe with FIVE podcast.

“They may not be straight starters immediately but they go and they stay there for 10 years and have a really good career and they impact the club at different levels.”

Ferdinand also argued that Ajax’s Jurrien Timber would suit Man Utd. He does not think that the centre-back’s height would be a problem:

“I think the way Ten Hag’s playing, looking at it, it’s like, ‘We’re going to be the team that’s the aggressor, we’re going to be the team that dictates and dominates the games’. So he’s looking to play on the half-way line.

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