Rio Ferdinand has backed Manchester United’s move for Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling – but warns his arrival could leave Antony and Amad Diallo fearing for their futures.
United and Chelsea are in talks over a stunning swap deal that would Sterling join United before Friday’s transfer deadline with Jadon Sancho heading in the other direction.
Sterling has been frozen out of the Blues squad by head coach Enzo Maresca with Sancho’s prospects in Manchester also looking bleak. The former Borussia Dortmund star, banished by Erik ten Hag a year ago, has not made the match day squad for the opening two games of the season.
Ferdinand has encouraged his former side to get the deal across the line, convinced Sterling will bring ‘experience’ and ‘goals’ to Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo have started the season as United’s first-choice wide options with Alejandro Garnacho still getting up to speed. Amad scored in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton last weekend but Ferdinand says the Ivorian will be desperate for Sterling not to join the club in order to keep his place in the side.
The former United defender also warns Antony, limited to one minute of game time so far this season, would be instantly relegated to fifth choice were the former Liverpool and Manchester City star to arrive before Friday’s transfer deadline.
‘Things haven’t worked out for Raheem at Chelsea and if Sancho goes in the other way, it works for both,’ Ferdinand told Rio Reacts.
‘They need a new chapter in their careers and I think this works for both players. For Man United, I think Sterling would be a good addition if he did come. What that does for someone like Antony I don’t know, he probably goes to fifth choice if someone like Sterling comes.
‘Amad has been playing recently, I think he’ll be sitting there looking over his shoulder thinking please don’t come.
‘But competition is good, it’s healthy and at a club like Man United it is vital to help keep pushing the team on. Raheem Sterling brings experience, he brings goals, he knows how to play the game. And he is someone who has something to prove which is important.’
Sancho featured during United’s preseason campaign with him and ten Hag seemingly burying the hatchet after season’s explosive falling out.
The winger made the journey to Brighton on Saturday only to be omitted from the matchday squad with Ferdinand warning he simply must find a way out of the club.
Ferdinand continued: ‘Sancho is the same, he will be sat there thinking, “I have travelled all the way down to Brighton and I wasn’t even on the bench. I need to do something different.”
‘He needs to reboot his career. He had a good spell at Dortmund but I think if Sancho isn’t getting game time at United he needs to find game time because he can’t have another season on the perjury of the squad at the age he is at.’
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