The former Red Devils defender says it’s “very frustrating” to see the Old Trafford club scrambling to close deals while others are spending money.
Rio Ferdinand has criticized Manchester United’s recruitment in the current transfer window, and Red Devils legend says it is “very frustrating” to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scrambling to get bodies on board while Chelsea spends the money.
Frank Lampard has had little trouble welcoming new faces into his ranks at Stamford Bridge. An ambitious spending spree in West London has seen the Blues close deals for Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr.
By contrast, United only have Donny van de Beek to show their efforts, and the Dutch midfielder was removed from Ajax. Several other targets have been proposed for the Red Devils, including Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, but no further deals have been reached.
Ferdinand is among those who were disappointed, as Solskjaer was expected to be busy before the next deadline.
“Frank has made signing players the norm, as if it were easy: water off a duck’s back,” Ferdinand told the Five YouTube channels.
“The difference in the way Chelsea have done their business compared to my Man United team… there is no noise, nothing happens, all you see is bang – deal. A little chat, good deal.
“That is what frustrates me and all Man United fans. Sancho was talked about months ago. It’s not over yet, it’s very frustrating.
“I’m not saying the deals are easy to do, but Chelsea is showing that the deals can be done if you put down the money and everything is done the right way.”
Ferdinand is not the first to suggest that United have been doing things the wrong way, with Gary Neville accusing the Red Devils of looking “desperate” as they waste valuable time and energy on deals that never seem to be completed.
The former full-back has said: “Like everyone else, they had three months off due to the coronavirus, so I don’t think it should be the case that they didn’t have the resources or the time to get things done. Chelsea did her business [Manchester] City has three or four pieces made. I don’t think timing is the problem.
“It’s one thing with United that every time they go after a player in the last four, five, six years, they feel like they’re a bit desperate.
“They think they can hold out but they always pay for it [the asking price] at the end. Sometimes that’s where I think you can take control, give a strict deadline and say ‘we’re walking away from this deal.’
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