Rio Ferdinand makes £170m Manchester United transfer claim

Rio Ferdinand believes he would be worth £170million if Manchester United were trying to sign him from Leeds in today's transfer market.

Fees paid for players have risen substantially since Ferdinand's playing days. In July 2002, the centre-back signed from United's fierce rivals for approximately £30m.

This transfer made him the most expensive British footballer and the world's most expensive defender. However, money spent on defenders and players has skyrocketed since.

In 2019, the Reds spent £80m to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City. But even this figure could be dwarfed by some of the fees being touted for RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol, who is expected to leave the Bundesliga club for more than £100m this summer.

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Discussing transfer fees on his FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand boldly claimed how much he felt he would be worth in today's market. "I was 30m back in the day," he explained.

"Imagine today man. "100m would be cheap for me, serious, in today's market. "£170m, £400,000 per week, that is what I would be now, I would be that now.

"If you want [my wages] to be that [£500,000-£600,000] they can be that but that is what I am saying 400 to 450."

Erik ten Hag is hoping to strengthen his United squad this summer and he will need to pay big money. MEN Sport understands the Dutchman's top targets are a midfielder and a striker, while a first-choice goalkeeper is also expected to be on the agenda amid the uncertainty surrounding David de Gea's future at the club.

A Manchester Evening News special souvenir edition - Fergie's First - charts United's 1992/93 title-winning campaign and you can get your hands on one here