Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has identified two defensive recruits who he believes could help his old club turn things around.
United have conceded 40 goals in 29 league games this term - no other side in the top nine has let in more. Amid the struggles at the back under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, Ferdinand has called for his former club to add Marquinhos and Ronald Araujo to their ranks.
Araujo, who has less than 18 months left on his current deal at Barcelona, has been linked with United and a number of their Premier League rivals. Marquinhos, meanwhile, is closing in on a decade at Paris Saint-Germain but will have to wait at least one more year for another shot at Champions League glory.
Speaking on his Vibe With Five show, Ferdinand said United would need to be much better defensively against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League than they were against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Captain Harry Maguire scored an own goal in the weekend victory, which relied on a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick.
"What’s killing for him is it seems week after week someone is questioning something about Harry Maguire, and it’s quite glaring," Ferdinand said. "There's moments in careers where everything you seem to do, there seems to be a problem."
Ferdinand was quizzed on defensive signings, and said "I would sign Marquinhos and I would sign the Uruguayan at Barcelona [Araujo]." Reports from the continent over the weekend suggested United remain interested in Araujo, who could be tempted by the higher wages likely to be available at the Premier League club.
Araujo, who turned 23 on March 7, is still on the five-year deal he signed upon joining from Uruguayan side Boston River in 2018. After a number of games with Barcelona B, the defender began playing a more prominent role under Ronald Koeman and has continued to feature under Xavi.
Sport reports that both United and Paris Saint-Germain could make a play to sign the youngster over the summer, with both clubs prepared to offer him a salary increase. PSG's own defensive situation comes against the backdrop of Sergio Ramos' injury woes, with the Spaniard featuring less than expected after his summer move from Real Madrid.
Ramos has played just four times for Mauricio Pochettino's side in Ligue 1 since completing a free transfer over the summer, scoring once. The veteran is under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2023, but has been linked with a move away as part of what could be a mass exodus.
PSG sporting director Leonardo has taken the blame for the Ramos signing, which he considers a "mistake". "Unfortunately, what we imagined of him at our club did not happen. It is difficult for him, for everyone," the Brazilian said.
