Rio Ferdinand backs Manchester United move for Frenkie de Jong amid links with Barcelona star

Rio Ferdinand is fully behind a move to bring Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford amid speculation linking the Barcelona midfielder with Manchester United.

The Red Devils confirmed the appointment of Erik ten Hag last month, with the hope the current Ajax boss will usher in a new era of prosperity at the club.

United have endured a poor season and are set for their lowest points tally in a Premier League campaign with one match still to play.

With a number of players’ contracts expiring at the end of the season, a rebuild of the squad is expected upon the new manager’s imminent arrival.

One of the names linked with a switch to United is De Jong, who was pivotal in the run of Ten Hag’s Ajax team to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.

United legend Ferdinand believes the midfielder would be a ‘fantastic signing’ for his former club.

‘A top player. I watched him really closely in {Ajax’s] Champions League semi-final team,’ Ferdinand told the FIVE YouTube channel.

‘They’re saying he could be the first signing under Ten Hag, if he is I will be sitting here going “Yes, great sign of things to come”.

‘He’s 25-years-old, not huge in terms of his frame, but what he has got is he’s quick with the ball, really good dribbler, can get out of tight situations, good passer over the short and medium distances.

‘As a team who are looking for players who can control the ball and the game and get the team functioning in terms of balanced possession, I think he would be a good addition to the team. He’s not someone who scores loads of goals, but he is more in terms of the controlling of the game.

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