Rio: United should have signed Toby

RIO Ferdinand believes United missed out by not bringing Toby Alderweireld to Old Trafford this summer.

The Tottenham centre-back was on a list of options Jose Mourinho wanted to bring in during the transfer window, but failure to negotiate a price with the London outfit lead to the Belgium international staying put.

And former United centre-back Ferdinand thinks the Reds missed a trick by not sealing a deal for the 29-year-old.

“I was in favour of bringing Toby Alderweireld from Spurs,” Ferdinand said.

“When playing regularly, I think he’s within the top two or three centrehalves in the country, in this league.

“I think he’s a fantastic player, he proved it again at the World Cup after not playing so many games last season.

“I thought he was a definite, he would have been my go-to choice to be honest.”

United were also linked with a move for Leicester defender Harry Maguire, but Ferdinand believes it was the right decision for the 25-year-old England World Cup star to stay put for now.

“Maguire had a fantastic tournament in Russia,” Ferdinand said.

“I just think for his development another season at Leicester, honing his craft within the Premier League, would be best from a personal standpoint for him.”