Ferdinand in Urgent Plea: United Must Move Fast for Smit or Risk Missing Out

Rio Ferdinand has made an impassioned case for Manchester United to move decisively in the transfer market, targeting AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit as the midfielder the club desperately needs.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the United legend described the Netherlands international as "the truth," signalling his conviction that the 52 million pound-rated midfielder represents exactly the calibre of signing required at Old Trafford.

With United having invested over 200 million pounds across five arrivals last summer, another significant recruitment drive is anticipated ahead of the forthcoming window. The club has identified midfield as a priority area following last year's inactivity in that department, with a left-back and left-winger also on the radar.

Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle's Sandro Tonali, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton have all been mooted as potential options. Yet Ferdinand believes Smit should take precedence, regardless of immediate availability.

"He's one you go: 'I'm buying him,'" Ferdinand explained. "It doesn't have to be for now. I hope he does come in and takes the world by storm, but if we've got to wait six months to a year for him, I do not care. We cannot let him go elsewhere."

The former defender added that conversations with contacts in Holland have only strengthened his assessment, suggesting the midfielder possesses the requisite attributes for elite football.

Ferdinand also revisited Harry Maguire's recent contract extension—keeping the centre-back at the club through at least next season—and acknowledged his own misjudgement regarding the defender's future. When Maguire found himself starved of minutes, Ferdinand had publicly suggested a move elsewhere might prove beneficial, notably to West Ham.

"He was offered to West Ham and various other clubs," Ferdinand reflected. "And I was one of the guys saying: 'go and play.' But I have to give him credit. He's stuck by his decision, his determination, and his stubbornness has gotten him to this point."

The conversation shifted to Marcus Rashford, whose Barcelona loan has yielded an impressive 10 goals and 10 assists this season. Ferdinand remains full of admiration for the winger's recent displays, particularly a goal he scored in Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid.

When asked whether he would welcome Rashford back to United, Ferdinand offered an unequivocal yes—but with significant caveats. He believes the 27-year-old's trajectory points unmistakably toward a permanent Catalan future, with Barcelona reportedly keen to renegotiate the €30 million buyback clause embedded in his loan arrangement.

"That's what Marcus Rashford has made us feel is the norm with him," Ferdinand said of the winger's quality. "It's just that we hadn't seen it for a while at Manchester United, and there are obviously reasons behind that."

Should Barcelona secure Rashford permanently at the reported £26 million fee, Ferdinand views it as a bargain. Despite his affection for the player and genuine wishes for his success, he accepts the chapter has closed.

"I think that ship has sailed," Ferdinand concluded. "I think Marcus Rashford is looking forwards, and I just hope that actually materialises for him."