Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United 'need' to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. The England international is highly thought of at Liverpool, although a move is unlikely until summer 2023.
Dortmund put a price tag of £103 million on Bellingham amid interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid. The German club are said to be unwilling to sell their prized asset this summer after seeing Erling Haaland leave for Manchester City.
United are a player short in the middle of the pitch after Paul Pogba departed the club after the expiration of his contract - he is expected to rejoin Juventus in the coming days.
READ MORE: Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund have extra incentive to complete Jude Bellingham transfer in 2023
Former United defender Ferdinand has made it well known he is a huge admirer of the 19-year-old, who has 'smashed it' in the Champions League since arriving in Dortmund from Birmingham City.
"Similar could be said about Jude Bellingham, the fact he’s gone to another country at such a young age, 17, 18 years old and absolutely lit the world alight, Champions League - he smashed it in the Champions League for Borussia Dortmund.
"(He) plays well beyond his years, has character, intelligence, integrity, you can trust him on the pitch, he makes demands. I’ve watched him closely, he demands of other people at a young age, all these characteristics that I feel Man United need. Again, I’m going away from, regardless if he’s got the technical ability, which I think he has, I don’t even look at that too much, I look at the character they’re the reasons I’m buying you.
"The other stuff, the football stuff is brilliant, yeah, and you’ve got to have a certain level of that - I understand - but the overriding factor is the character. Them two (Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice) are the standouts in that sense."
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