Rio Ferdinand says opponents are ‘licking their lips’ to face Manchester United new boy and urges Erik ten Hag to change formation

Rio Ferdinand has given a scathing assessment of Lisandro Martinez and his ability to play in the Premier League, urging Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag to change to a back three to accommodate the diminutive Argentine.

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Martinez, a £56.7million signing from Ajax this summer, was hauled off after 45 minutes against Brentford at the weekend after being given a torrid time by Ivan Toney as well as getting easily out-jumped by Ben Mee on a corner.

Ferdinand believes the defender’s lack of height – he is just 5ft 9in – will have the Premier League’s more physical and imposing strikers ‘licking their lips’ and is not convinced he can play at centre-back in a flat back four.

Speaking on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show, the United legend said: ‘He’s going to be a target, seriously. I know for a fact there will be players now, centre-halves who know they’re going up for set-pieces, and centre-forwards: Mitrovic, Nunez, Haaland, Wood, Dominic Calvert-Lewin. All of them, they’ll be sitting there going, “Oh my god, get me in the team, there’s definitely chances there”.

‘I was speaking to Alan Shearer yesterday on the text and we were talking about it. He used to lick his lips when the ball was plopped up to the far post. He used to lick his lips when there were 6ft 4in centre-halves waiting in front of him, let alone a 5ft 9in centre-half.

‘So imagine what these guys are going to be thinking when they’ve got a 5ft 9in guy standing there. They’ll be thinking: “Just tee it up and I’ve got a run on him” – they don’t even have to jump! Bang! Put him and the ball in the back of the net.

‘With all due respect, when have you ever seen Ben Mee really bully a centre-half in the opposing team’s box