Rio Ferdinand: Man Utd Should Have Snapped £55m Arsenal Star Konsa

Rio Ferdinand has revealed he wishes Manchester United had signed Ezri Konsa before the defender’s £55m summer switch to Arsenal, according to Metro ^[1]. The former Red Devils centre-back admitted the ex-Villa man is a “top, top player” whom his old club should have pursued.

Konsa, 29, has seamlessly integrated into Mikel Arteta’s side, helping Arsenal win 13 of their 16 games this season while filling in for injured William Saliba ^[1]. His influence was pivotal on Sunday, as Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 to secure their first Anfield victory since 2012.

Ferdinand praised Konsa’s efficiency, telling his son Tate, who plays in the Brighton academy, to watch the England international’s performance against Liverpool ^[1]. “Everything he does is efficient,” Ferdinand said, adding that Konsa presents a “great problem” for Arteta regarding team selection.

The Mirror reported ^[2] that Ferdinand sees Konsa as a potential right-back rival to Jurrien Timber once Saliba returns. Despite Saliba’s elite status, Ferdinand argued Konsa could maintain his place due to his versatility and quality. “He’s giving Mikel Arteta some big decisions to make and big headaches,” Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel.

United’s summer transfer strategy has faced scrutiny after spending their £155m budget exclusively on midfielders ^[2]. The Mirror noted that the Red Devils’ backline is under heavy criticism, with the team languishing in 17th place. Their last centre-half signing, Leny Yoro, arrived in 2024, leaving Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez as long-serving options.

Arteta described the win at Anfield as “remarkable,” highlighting the team’s resilience following a defeat to Fleetwood ^[1]. For United, the missed opportunity to sign Konsa adds to their defensive woes, which may force them into the January market despite initial plans to address the backline next summer ^[2].