Rio Ferdinand shocked at Manchester United transfer business as West Ham agree deal
Rio Ferdinand believes West Ham United are about to pull off some “good business” in landing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United.
The pundit answered questions on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents [11 August, 7m 40s] regarding Man United’s business in the summer transfer window to date.
Man United are in the process of signing Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich whereas, West Ham will imminently announce Wan-Bissaka [Fabrizio Romano, 12 August] as the latest signing in East London.
Ferdinand praised the Irons for closing in on Wan-Bissaka, with a deal already in place, but appeared to criticise Man United’s pursuit of De Ligt.
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka will probably be sold. I think they’re saying it’s West Ham. I think that’s a good deal all round. I still think [Diogo] Dalot will play and Mazraoui will be the backup,” he said.
“It just fills me with a bit of disappointment with the way [De Light’s] career has gone since then. You’re thinking to yourself, a lot of injuries, doesn’t start many games over the last two or three years, and Man United are spending £40-50million on him.
“Is he going to come into Man United and make a difference? I think that’s a big ask for him.”
West Ham United gain edge on Manchester United in transfer market
West Ham have played Man United to perfection in the transfer market this summer in a bizarre turn of events.
A deal was agreed last month with Bayern Munich for Mazraoui, but the Algerian turned down the move to the Hammers in favour of Old Trafford [Sky Sports] and he will now take Wan-Bissaka’s place as deputy to Dalot as the 26-year-old moves to become a regular starter at the London stadium.
Time will tell whether Mazraoui will come to regret that decision but the Hammers will not as they have secured a Premier League-proven right-back at his expense.
Erik Ten Hag also wanted to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from OGC Nice but couldn’t strike a deal due to INEOS owning stakes in both clubs [The Mirror, 17 July].
Man United turned their attention to De Ligt, who has failed to live up to the potential shown at Ajax with two underwhelming spells at Juventus and Bayern Munich, while West Ham capitalised and signed Todibo on a loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the season [Sean Whetstone, 11 August].
The Hammers have matched quality with quantity in their additions with Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Guido Rodriguez also joining the side this summer. Todibo and Wan-Bissaka are the icing on the cake.
No one would have predicted a transfer battle between West Ham and Man United to work in the Irons’ favour, but that seems to be the case as the final transfers await confirmation and Lopetegui’s side look ready to rival Man United for the European spots this season.
In other West Ham news, Kurt Zouma’s West Ham United exit takes another twist.
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