Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has urged Newcastle United to target ‘young English players’ as they begin the rebuilding of the club following a £305millon takeover by a Saudi consortium last week.
The Magpies became the club with the wealthiest owners last week when a Saudi-led consortium purchased the club from former owner Mike Ashley. The new owners reportedly have a lot of money to spend and are willing to bring in big names to facilitate their transition from a mid-table club to a title contender in the near future.
And Ferdinand believes that the Toon will find more value if they target some of England’s Euro 2020 stars.
Speaking in his YouTube show ‘Vibe with Five’ (via Daily Mail), the former England defender says the club should ‘go all out’ to try and sign Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard.
“I’d be going to try and make like a mad couple of signings, like huge, that I think would be gettable,” Ferdinand said
“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?'”
“These 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.”
The new owners have the financial muscles to sign any player they want and have been linked with PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, as well as Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland. But at the same time, Newcastle United should keep in mind that for both of the players who would rule football world in coming years- “the time is now”.
But Ferdinand insists the Magpies should set their sights on players that are in England rather than looking abroad.
“[Kylian Mbappe] is just dreamland, but there are 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,
“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 back in Premier League action this weekend when they take on Tottenham in what will be their first game under the new owners.
