‘Liverpool have stagnated’ – Two of the most in-demand stars urged to snub Liverpool and join Manchester United

Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has urged Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice to reject a move to Liverpool in favour of joining Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

“If you put the two teams on a graph, Manchester United are going in one direction and Liverpool have stagnated,” Ferdinand told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I wouldn’t say Liverpool are in decline, but other teams are catching them up and maybe going beyond them. If I’m a player, say Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice – two of the most in-demand English midfielders that may get moves this summer – and someone says, ‘Manchester United or Liverpool, where are you going?’, forget my Manchester United ties, I have to go with United right now.

“The way the team looks, the way the squad is shaping up, the way the managers are navigating their teams’ fortunes and who I see being more successful in the upcoming future – I really would be sitting on the side of United.”