Arsenal are lining up a shock summer swoop for Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand according to reports.
With Manchester United expecting a summer overhaul with lots of changes, the future of 35-year-old Rio Ferdinand has yet to be decided.
It was largely expected that the former England international defender would follow teammate Nemanja Vidic out of the exit door and possibly into retirement, but Rio Ferdinand has since put an end to the speculation by suggesting he wants to continue playing at the top level.
Ferdinand’s United career therefore appears to be in the hands of the club. However, if the English press is to be believed, the defender may have an admirer from another top Premier League side.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal have allegedly earmarked Ferdinand as an option this summer and could tempt him to move back to London.
The Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is not new to looking at experienced United players for his squad, as he took Frenchman Mikael Silvestre off Sir Alex Ferguson’s hands back in 2008.
Silvestre, however, was only 32-years-old at the time and offered Arsenal experience at the back when they needed it most. Ferdinand, on the other hand, is three years older and it is difficult to imagine him dislodging Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny from the Arsenal starting XI.
Nevertheless, the report goes on to say that the Gunners, along with QPR and Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, are among the clubs interested, and he could be set to leave Old Trafford should manager-elect Louis van Gaal decide against extending his current deal.
Ferdinand has started just 11 Premier League matches this season, his lowest tally since his teenage years at West Ham United.
Since the turn of the year, he has competed in 10 matches in all competitions, finishing on the winning side just three times.
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