Rio Ferdinand tells Man Utd to sign former Real Madrid star on free transfer | Football

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United should pursue a move for free agent Karim Benzema to bolster their options in attack.

United made it a priority to strengthen in central midfield over the summer transfer window, but that approach has left Michael Carrick’s squad thin in other areas of the pitch.

Luke Shaw is the club’s only senior left-back, while Benjamin Sesko’s injury problems have highlighted the Red Devils’ lack of depth in forward areas.

Sesko is yet to start a Premier League game this season and missed the 1-1 draw with Fulham prior to the international break due to a recurrence of his shin injury.

And with Joshua Zirkzee seemingly unfancied by Carrick, it has been Matheus Cunha who has been deployed as a makeshift striker for the opening stretch of the season.

The Brazilian opened his league account for the season against Fulham, but Ferdinand believes United would benefit from a more ‘focal’ presence at the top of the pitch.

And the former United defender name-checked Benzema as a potential solution, with the former Real Madrid striker still a free agent after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in the summer.

Asked if United should have signed a striker this summer, Ferdinand told his YouTube channel: ‘If you knew you had to manage his [Sesko] minutes, I totally agree with you. Without him, there isn’t really a focal point.

‘We’ve got players that want to come deep to the ball more often than not and get involved in the build-up, and then you lose that focal point out there.

‘But if you had somebody up there who could share the minutes, share the load, help in terms of experience, lend that experience to Sesko for him to learn as well, you’d have been getting so much more out of just a signing to go and play the 90 minutes.

‘Welbeck springs to mind, obviously, so does Benzema. Two players I feel would have added huge value to the forward line that we have.’

Benzema scored 10 goals in his 12 league games at Al Hilal before his contract was terminated after only six months at the club. Ollie Watkins was signed from Aston Villa over the summer as the Frenchman’s replacement.

United, meanwhile, will host Tottenham after the international break as they look to end their three-game winless run in all competitions.

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