Rio Ferdinand responds to 'perfect' player who DM'd showing interest in joining Manchester United

Rio Ferdinand has responded to a 'perfect' player who has reportedly held transfer conversations with Manchester United.

United were knocked out of European competition entirely after Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag's side had only one shot on target, and now have to deal with fresh potential injury blows to defensive duo Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.

With a trip to Liverpool on the horizon on Sunday, United will be desperate to avoid their eighth Premier League defeat of the season before Christmas.

Speaking on his YouTube podcast, Vibe with FIVE, Ferdinand responded to co-host Stephen Howson, who said he had spoken with an unnamed 'perfect' player who claimed he had held conversations with United.

The Red Devils icon said: "If you look at it, which player has gone to United and got better?

"[Raphael] Varane has gotten worse. Casemiro has gone backwards now, their value and worth. You'd get good money for Bruno [Fernandes] still, but he's the only one.

"Who else? [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, you ain't getting £50 million for him. You ain't getting what they paid for [Diogo] Dalot, I'm sure. Amad Diallo - I could go through them all.

"Alejandro Garnacho has value now. I don't know who comes in. Do we get the same money for [Rasmus] Hojlund? No. [Jadon] Sancho? No. I could go on. Donny van de Beek."

Elsewhere, Ferdinand also responded to reports that United are interested in signing Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguay defender has established himself as one of Barca's key players in recent seasons, and can play at both centre-back and right-back.

He also represented his nation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Erik ten Hag's side held strong interest in signing both Araujo and Frenkie De Jong from Barcelona in the summer.

And with the January transfer window approaching, rumours have again begun circulating amid United's defensive injury crisis.

But Ferdinand has warned Araujo against a move to Old Trafford, and is concerned that he would 'risk his career' if he made the switch.

He explained: "If I'm a player like Ronald who I think has every attribute to be one of the best defenders in the world, why are you going United?

"I'd be looking at Varane and going, if he can go to Manchester United and get benched for a left-back [Luke Shaw] or for an old veteran like Jonny Evans, an ex-player who has come back for his twilight years, and someone who used to be captain [Harry Maguire], who was left out for 18 months but is back in form now and is playing.

"I can't go there and risk my life and my career."