Rio Ferdinand has delivered a scathing assessment of Manchester United's recent transfer strategy, highlighting two major errors following the club's disappointing 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.
Ferdinand's verdict on United's striker situation
The former United defender used his YouTube platform to remind the club of a significant missed opportunity last summer. Ferdinand stated that the Red Devils made a clear mistake by not pursuing Victor Osimhen, who instead completed a £65 million move to Galatasaray.
Osimhen's form since that transfer has been exceptional, scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances last season and adding 12 in 16 games this term. Ferdinand argued that the Nigerian striker's proven experience was exactly what United needed, contrasting sharply with the struggles of their own big-money signing.
Sesko's struggles continue at Old Trafford
The criticism comes amid a dire run of form for Ruben Amorim's side, who have won just once in their last seven Premier League outings. The draw leaves them three points adrift of the Champions League places and a staggering 17 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Central to their attacking woes is Benjamin Sesko, the £74 million summer acquisition from RB Leipzig. The Slovenian forward played the full 90 minutes against Leeds but failed to score for an 11th consecutive game, taking his tally to just two goals in 17 appearances for the club.
While Ferdinand believes "something is there" with the young striker, he pointed to a lack of service and crossing as key issues. "He's a work in progress," Ferdinand said. "It's not easy being a number nine for Man United."
A historic transfer error revisited
Ferdinand didn't stop at the Osimhen critique. He also revisited what he considers another historic blunder: the sale of Danny Welbeck to Arsenal in 2019. The 35-year-old is currently enjoying a superb season with Brighton, scoring eight goals.
"I've said before they should never have sold Danny Welbeck," Ferdinand declared. "He's doing his thing at Brighton... he's a player you can depend on. That ship has sailed now, but we shouldn't have let him go in the first place."
The match itself saw Matheus Cunha's second-half equaliser cancel out Brenden Aaronson's opener for Leeds. Manager Ruben Amorim's team selection raised eyebrows, as he deployed left wing-back Patrick Dorgu in an advanced right-sided role, perhaps signalling his frustration with the squad's depth in attack.
With key players like Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, and Amad Diallo absent, the pressure is mounting ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. United face Burnley next, followed by a cup tie against Brighton and Premier League clashes with Manchester City and Arsenal.
Ferdinand's message was clear: United's recruitment failures are now directly impacting their results on the pitch. "We need to go and recruit or we need players back as soon as possible," he concluded, leaving the club's hierarchy with much to ponder during the January window.
