Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says he would be fully behind the club making a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez.

There have been reports this week that the Red Devils are willing to trigger the 25-year-old’s €150m (£133m) release clause. Ferdinand thinks the Spanish international could well be the best replacement for Paul Pogba if the midfielder leaves Old Trafford this summer:

“I don’t want Pogba to go but if he does go I’d take Saul Niguez all day long 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 Simeone, he gets his teams really well set up and he’s in the middle orchestrating and dictating things.”

Ferdinand is correct to say the two players are not particularly alike. You just have to look at the two players’ goal records to see the difference in style between the two.

No doubt, Saul is a very talented player but there are question marks over whether such a sizeable bid for the Spaniard is really warranted.

United have more pressing concerns, including increasing their threat in the final third of the pitch. The Manchester club have scored just 44 goals in 29 Premier League games this season. Those numbers won’t be helped if Pogba leaves and Saul comes in.