Rio Ferdinand tells Newcastle to ‘go all out’ to try and sign Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard – as he urges club’s new Saudi owners to build ‘a young core of English players’
- Newcastle were subject of a highly-publicised £305m Saudi takeover last week
- Magpies have been linked with a host of top stars due to their new-found wealth
- But ex-Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand says they should target English players
- Ferdinand name-dropped Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard and Declan Rice
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.
Rio Ferdinand believes Newcastle United’s new owners should target young English players
Ferdinand says Newcastle should target the likes of Raheem Sterling (L) and Declan Rice (R)
The ex-Manchester United defender also put Jesse Lingard in the frame for a move to the Toon
‘I’d be going to try and make like a mad couple of signings, like huge, that I think would be gettable,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube show Vibe with Five.
‘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.’
Newcastle United’s new director Amanda Staveley will have a say on the club’s transfer policy
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,
Ferdinand also said Newcastle should go get Max Aarons (left) and Conor Gallagher (right)
‘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.’
