Leeds United: Rio Ferdinand says Jack Harrison would be ideal signing for Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand has named out-on-loan Leeds United winger Jack Harrison as the ideal type of player to improve Manchester United.
The former Man United defender, speaking on his FIVE podcast [11 December, 17m 16s], was discussing how the club can get more out of flop striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Denmark international Hojlund has yet to score in 12 Premier League appearances since joining in a deal worth up to £72million [Sky Sports, 6 August].
Ferdinand believes Harrison, who is on a season-long loan at Everton, is one of five players United should have looked to bring to Old Trafford.
“If Man United had [Michael] Olise, Jack Harrison, [Dwight] McNeil at Everton, Jacob Murphy at Newcastle – any one of those four wingers, I reckon [Hojlund] would have five or six goals by now,” Ferdinand said.
“Why? Because they cross the ball. All four of those boys, their first thought is get the ball, head down, either beat the full-back and cross or give me a yard and cross the ball.
“[Hojlund] needs service. [Jarrod] Bowen [is another who would help Hojlund]. These guys want to provide. We’ve got wingers who either want to get a shot off, shoot, beat someone.”
More money than sense
Manchester United clearly have more money than sense if their transfer business pretty much over the past decade post-Alex Ferguson is anything to go by.
The Red Devils continue to splash out countless millions – even if their spoilt supporters argue every passing manager is not backed – and yet there is so very little to show for it.
The problem is, a player like Harrison – or indeed McNeil, Murphy, etc – were never going to be anywhere near their transfer radar simply because they are not ‘names’.
Rather than move for a player like Harrison, who stood out with 12 direct goal involvements in Leeds’ relegation campaign last time out, Man United would rather splash out £82m on the untested Antony [BBC Sport, September 2022].
Hojlund is just the latest example of the club being overly smart and thinking they have found a gem, and yet paying the sort of price that you would expect of a player who is already a star.
As for Harrison’s future, he is technically due to return to Elland Road next summer, but supporters can surely accept his future lies elsewhere if Leeds do not return to the top flight come May.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit has shared his view on how Tottenham loanee Djed Spence performed on his full debut for the Whites.