Rio Ferdinand tells Manchester United to 'move heaven and earth' to sign Mbappe or Haaland

Rio Ferdinand tells Manchester United to ‘move heaven and earth’ to sign Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland this summer – and says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot afford for them to join any of their Premier League rivals

  • Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland face uncertain futures at their current sides
  • Mbappe is near the end of his deal and Borussia Dortmund have a top-four battle
  • Rio Ferdinand says either striker would ‘change the narrative’ at Man United 

Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to ‘move heaven and earth’ to sign Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland in the summer to capitalise on the improvement under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season.

The Old Trafford legend believes a statement signing through one of the world’s best strikers would propel United back into challenging for the Premier League title.

Ferdinand also stressed the importance of signing another central defender in time for next season.

Rio Ferdinand insists Manchester United need to sign Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland

Rio Ferdinand insists Manchester United need to sign Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland

France star Mbappe faces an uncertain PSG future beyond the end of the current season

France star Mbappe faces an uncertain PSG future beyond the end of the current season

Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand praised the improvement under Solskjaer across the current campaign.

‘Manchester United were playing catch up from everybody last season,’ Ferdinand said. ‘They finished 30 points behind Liverpool last season, now they’re above them. 

‘That’s a big, big achievement in that sense. I see progress. I still see room for improvement, we definitely need to buy a centre-back, a commanding centre back with pace. 

 ‘Cavani, yes, he’s a good stopgap but (we need) a centre forward,’ Ferdinand stressed. ‘If people like Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe are available, you can’t allow them to go somewhere else and you need to move heaven and earth to get them here. 

‘United are used to having superstars and those boys would change the narrative at this football club, that’s how good they are. 

‘There’s room for improvement and opportunity to improve this squad, there’s players out there available, it seems. We need to be in the mix.’ 

There could well be a major summer battle for both Haaland and Mbappe, with the two strikers facing uncertain futures at their respective clubs.

Haaland could be on the move if Borussia Dortmund fail to finish in the top four in Germany

Haaland could be on the move if Borussia Dortmund fail to finish in the top four in Germany

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United side are currently second in the Premier League standings

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United side are currently second in the Premier League standings 

Haaland’s Borussia Dortmund are currently fifth in the Bundesliga standings, three points outside the top four. 

Failure to qualify for the Champions League would almost certainly see the forward on the move this summer, with Chelsea linked with the Norway international.

Mbappe, meanwhile, is approaching the final year of his PSG deal and if he doesn’t sign an extension, Europe’s elite will be circling. 

Liverpool and Real Madrid have been linked with the World Cup winning France international but it is believed PSG would want a fee of around £174m for the striker.

source: dailymail.co.uk