Rio Ferdinard tells Newcastle to enlist young English stars
London, Tuesday
Rio Ferdinand believes Newcastle United’s new owners should target young English players in the January transfer window instead of top stars from abroad.
The Magpies were subject of a highly-publicised £305m takeover from a Saudi-led consortium last week and the club is now run by one of the wealthiest owners in football.
And Ferdinand - who played for West Ham, Leeds and Manchester United - told his YouTube show Vibe with Five that Newcastle should target some of England’s Euro 2020 stars, mentioning the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard and Declan Rice.
“I’d be going to try and make like a mad couple of signings, like huge, that I think would be gettable,’ Ferdinand said.
“I’d be looking at people like Raheem Sterling. Raheem Sterling’s not playing regularly, I’d go ask him the question. I’d go and ask Declan Rice, “What’s going on?”
“Them two would be the first two on my list, and I’d go all out to go and get them.
And then I’d be trying to get people like Jesse Lingard, who’s in and around the Man United squad.’
“It’s unrealistic until you ask the question. I’d be going out there to get answers from these types of players and then you work your way down your list.’
Such is their newfound wealth, Newcastle have been linked with PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, as well as Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland.
But Ferdinand insists the Toon should, for the time being, set their sights closer to home.
“Kylian Mbappe is just dreamland, but there’s people that would be on the periphery of the Man United squad, the Chelsea squad, the City squad.
I’d be looking at players like that, I’d be all over those types of players,” he added.
“And then I’d be wanting to unearth some young talents probably from around the world that you think would be able to mix and blend in to that.
Do you know who I’d go out and get now as well? I’d be going mad for young, English talent. The best young, English talent.
“Max Aarons, the right-back at Norwich, Under-21 player. Conor Gallagher, straight in there. Get him in there.
They’re two names, straight away, young kids who I’d say they’re coming into Newcastle.
I want young, English talent. “Newcastle are an English club, I’d want a young core of English players.” - Daily Mail
