Rio Ferdinand said Netherlands wing-back Denzel Dumfries has been a "breath of fresh air" at the World Cup amid ongoing transfer links with Manchester United.
United are in the market for a new right-back, with Diogo Dalot having been used almost exclusively by Erik ten Hag since his appointment. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was made available for transfer before this season got underway and has only played four minutes throughout the campaign.
With little competition in that area, Victor Lindelof has been deployed as a stand-in, at times, with Ten Hag primed to jot down a shortlist of potential targets. Dumfries, 26, has been mooted as one option
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He has caught the eye under Louis van Gaal at the World Cup in Qatar with his attacking displays but did concede the penalty from which Lionel Messi put Argentina 2-0 up in the quarter-final on Friday night.
Ferdinand singled out Dumfries for praise during a pre-match piece in the BBC Sport studio. He said: "He's integral, just like Daley Blind, to the way that Louis van Gaal works.
"They're the outlet that get beyond, and he's a player you look at and think that he's athletic, can beat people one-on-one. It's not just about being there, it's the quality.
"He's not putting balls in willy-nilly, he's picking people out, those cutbacks have been ever so dangerous. He doesn't mind working at the other end of the pitch, as well. He's been a breath of fresh air for them and a very important player."
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