Former Manchester United defender and captain Rio Ferdinand has admitted that the club have missed out by not signing Toby Alderweireld this summer.

The Red Devils desperately needed to sign a new centre-back in the summer, and were linked with various stars before the window slammed shut. But Spurs’ Alderweireld was a firm favourite to be brought into the club, with the Belgian being rated as one of the best in the world.

And Ferdinand, who is one of the greatest centre-backs to ever don the United shirt, believes Mourinho’s side would have been much stronger had they ignored the hefty fee for the 29-year-old and signed him.

Speaking as a pundit on BT Sport, Ferdinand said:

“I was in favour of bringing Toby Alderweireld from Spurs.

“When playing regularly, I think he’s within the top two or three centre-halves 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.”

Rio also gave his opinion on United’s links to Leicester City defender Harry Maguire, who apparently wanted to join Mourinho’s side but saw two bids rejected for him, saying that the England international did the right thing by staying for a further season.

“Maguire had a fantastic tournament in Russia,” he added.

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