United fans are eager for the club to make a move on the final day of the January transfer window, especially after the team’s 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Three consecutive victories had suggested Ruben Amorim’s side was finally making progress, but their fragility was once again exposed by a Palace team with just six wins before their trip to Old Trafford. ..Continue Reading
The loss, fueled by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half brace, leaves Manchester United sitting in 13th place in the Premier League.
Following the defeat, Amorim mentioned that the club’s management was ‘trying everything’ to strengthen the squad before the transfer deadline, while also avoiding the ‘mistakes of the past’.
Amorim is reportedly looking to add a new forward to the roster after signing Denmark full-back Patrick Dorgu and approving Marcus Rashford’s move to Aston Villa.
Ferdinand agrees that Manchester United needs more attacking options and has named Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen as the player he would like to see join the club on deadline day.
Currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, Osimhen has been linked with a Premier League move during the winter transfer window.
Responding to a United fan who said the club desperately needed to sign a ‘natural number nine,’ Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel, ‘I 100% agree with you. I completely agree.’
‘A natural number nine. Victor Osimhen, I would have gone with Osimhen on loan. Get him on loan, man. If it’s possible I would have got him.’
Osimhen has been in excellent form in the Turkish Super Lig, scoring 17 goals in 21 appearances for the league leaders.
The 26-year-old, who netted 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli and helped them win Serie A in 2022-23, has been sidelined by manager Antonio Conte.
Amorim appeared to send a message to the Manchester United board with his team selection against Crystal Palace, choosing to start Kobbie Mainoo as a striker in the absence of a natural forward.
Rasmus Hojlund, signed for £73 million, and Joshua Zirkzee, who cost £36.5 million, were both left on the bench.
This isn’t the first time Ferdinand has advocated for a Manchester United move for Osimhen; he recently stated that the Nigerian striker could not only provide goals for Old Trafford but also ‘help’ the struggling Hojlund.
‘I’ve watched Hojlund closely the last two games… it just doesn’t add up,’ an exasperated Ferdinand said.
‘I’d be going to get Osimhen now if we can do it from a financial standpoint. Get him on loan now!
‘Guarantees you someone who can get on the end of things, scores goals, experienced, done it at the top level.
‘I just feel like because Hojlund was £70m-odd we’re expecting the finished article. Unfortunately [he’s not]. He’s a young striker but normally a striker of that age comes in and learns off someone. He’s got nobody to learn off.’
Discussing United’s plans ahead of deadline day, Amorim said: ‘We are trying everything to improve the team without making the mistakes of the past and also trying to balance the urgency of the moment.
‘We know all of the aspects of our club in the moment but we are trying everything.
‘This market is really hard on clubs to make some deals. I want to improve the team so badly. I know what the team needs.
‘Sometimes it’s possible, sometimes it’s not. When the window closes we will see the players that we have.’
