Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United should have explored a deal for Porto striker Mehdi Taremi ahead of Wout Weghorst.
Mehdi Taremi has been in impressive form for Porto this season (Quality Sport Images/Getty)
United are in the market for a new striker this month and have held extensive talks to sign Weghorst, who is currently on loan at Besiktas from Burnley.
Erik ten Hag’s side have already seen their first offer rejected as they attempt to persuade Besiktas to cancel Weghorst’s season-long loan.
But Ferdinand feels United should make a move for Taremi, who has scored 14 goals in 20 appearances for Porto this season, while the 30-year-old impressed for Iran at the World Cup as he scored twice in the 6-2 defeat to England.
Taremi currently has a €60 million (£53m) release clause in his deal with Porto, which expires next year.
When United’s move for Weghorst was raised on YouTube show Vibe with Five, Ferdinand said: ‘I’d have gone and got Taremi in from Porto.’
Manchester United are in talks to sign Wout Weghorst who is on loan at Besiktas from Burnley (ANP via Getty)
Ferdinand also explained why United should prioritise a move for Tottenham striker Harry Kane in the summer window.
‘Get Harry Kane in, Spurs fans I’m sorry, you’re not going to win anything, he ain’t going to win anything at Spurs,’ Ferdinand said.
‘They’re in a bit of turmoil at the minute. Man United, in the summer, let’s go and find a No.9 for the next three or four years to hang our hat on, to get you 20, 25 goals a season every year, where are you going?
Rio Ferdinand says Harry Kane should be Manchester United’s top target in the summer (Getty)
‘If you go outside the Premier League it’s a risk, I don’t care what level, unless you’re talking to [Kylian] Mbappe. Outside that everything’s a risk.
‘It’s massive money, 100 million, 120 million, [Victor] Osimhen, you’re getting charged. You’re paying big dough for these guys.
‘You’re going to have to pay big money for Harry Kane but at least you know you’re getting a man who’s getting you 20, 25 goals a season. We can ask, ‘does he suit the play?’, the man scores 20, 25 goals. Harry Kane can’t be going anywhere but Man United.’
[READ NEXT] “I love this club” – Man United star hopes to stay at Old Trafford for a long time
Man United defender Diogo Dalot hopes to sign a long-term contract at Old Trafford after the club triggered a 12-month extension in his current deal before Christmas.
That will keep the right-back at the Manchester club until 2024 but the Portugal international hopes to stay with the Red Devils for longer than that.
Speaking about Man United and his future at the club, Dalot stated via the Daily Mail: ‘I love this club and I love to play for this club. Progressively we are in a good direction as a team. For me, this is the most important part and hopefully, individually I can continue to help the team as I am doing.’
He added about the Premier League: ‘I agree that it is probably the best league to play if you are a player that likes excitement, if you are a player that likes intensity, if you are a player that likes mess.’
Dalot has been at Man United since 2018 but it is only this season that the 23-year-old has really shown his worth. The Portugal international is currently out injured but up until the World Cup the right-back was one of the best in his position in the Premier League.
The defender has played 22 games for United in all competitions this season, scoring one goal and assisting a further two, and should he sign a long-term deal with the Red Devils, it is an outcome the Manchester club’s fans would be happy with.
SOURCE: metro.co.uk, caughtoffside.com
