Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to make a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez should Paul Pogba leave the club.
Pogba's contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of next season - though United retain the option to extend it by a further year - and Real Madrid as well as Juventus remain heavily linked with his signature.
The Frenchman stated his desire to leave the club in the summer transfer window and M.E.N. Sport understand the midfielder still wants to leave the club. It is understood the United players who are friends with Pogba accept it is in his and the club’s best interests that he goes in the next summer window.
United would be certain to make a profit on the £89million they paid to Juventus to re-sign Pogba in 2016 which would allow the club to spend big on a replacement.
Ferdinand wants Pogba to stay but believes the Reds should go all out to sign Saul should he depart.
"I don’t want Pogba to go but if he does go I’d take Saul Niguez all day long," he said during an Instagram Live on his official page.
"Not like-for-like but still a top player.
"What a player. I’ve been harping on about Saul Niguez for a few years now.
"I think he’s a major player. Composed, calm, great left foot, lovely conductor, he can score goals, tactically he’s very aware.
"You can see [Diego] Simeone, he gets his teams really well set up and he’s in the middle orchestrating and dictating things."
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