Rio Ferdinand sends sobering warning to “out of form” Manchester United star amid transfer talk

Rio Ferdinand has sent a sobering warning to one Manchester United player amid rumours that he may look to leave the club this summer if he is not offered a new contract.

A major clear-out is expected at Old Trafford this summer as Rúben Amorim looks to reshape the Manchester United squad he has inherited from Erik ten Hag.

Several departures are already confirmed, with Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans, and Tom Heaton all set to leave when their contracts expire in June.

The club is also looking to offload Casemiro to reduce their wage bill, while Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia are not in Amorim’s plans and could be sold.

Meanwhile, speculation continues over the potential sales of Academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, as their departures would be recorded as “pure profit” in the club’s accounts, easing financial constraints.

Latest talks surrounding Mainoo’s new contract

Mainoo is one of the club’s most promising youngs stars to graduate from the club’s Academy across the last ten years, with his rise to fame culminating in a starting spot for England.

However, with the player currently sat on a £20,000-a-week contract, there have long been reports stating that the player wants a pay rise up to between £150-180k a week, depending on who you believe.

There have also been claims that should a new contract not be sorted, the club may opt to sell the player this summer amid their current financial struggles, with one report stating Mainoo is looking to move abroad this summer.

Speaking on an episode of his podcast, former United defender Rio Ferdinand has explained what he feels Mainoo will be thinking with respect to how much he can demand from United.

“How much do you value me? How important am I to this squad? I’m an academy player,” Ferdinand stated, talking about what will be passing through Mainoo’s mind. “The PR and marketing around this club over the last 30, 40, 50 years is around academy players, and I’m the man now.”

Further, Joleon Lescott, former Premier League defender, explained that, with United valuing him at around £75 million, this will be factoring into how much he will be asking for in a contract.

“So from a club’s perspective and a player, I’m thinking, well, if I’m £70 million and you want £70 million pounds for me, then you give me the wages that warrant 70 million pounds worth of player,” Lescott said.

When the number of £150,000-a-week was put to him, the former England international replied: “It’s going to be around that number. Regardless of his age and where he’s come from, you value me at that.

“If Arsenal bought him – okay, let’s not say Arsenal – any team bought him £70 million. Just say they bought him and gave him £180,00-a-week. No one’s going to question him. No way. No one’s questioning his decision to want £180,000 then.”

Ferdinand issues Mainoo a sobering warning

However, Ferdinand also explained that, from the club’s perspective, they will not be seeing Mainoo in the same light as he and his entourage may see himself.

Ferdinand continued, warning Mainoo that the fact he has suffered multiple injuries so far this season and is yet to nail down a place within Amorim’s set-up is working against his demands for fresh terms.

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“We’ve seen what Kobbie and his team will probably go in at. And I’m looking at it from the club’s perspective.

“They’re going, we’ve got a young kid, come through the academy, who has done some great things for England, but hasn’t started 50 games, has he? I don’t think he’s started 50 games, there or thereabouts. And then, isn’t fit, hasn’t been fit for parts of the season, is out of form.

“And the manager has questioned whether he can play in the position that we brought him up in, in centre midfield. Are we going to give him that type of money, when we don’t even know if the manager’s going to play him?”

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