Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to sign a new defensive midfielder, after criticising Fred for his recent performances this season.
The former Red Devils defender has expressed his displeasure with the 28-year-old's performances in United's opening three league matches.
Ferdinand believes the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder does have some key attributes to play in a more defensive role, but feels that he 'lets himself down' positionally.
"His attributes physically, to be able to cover the ground and make tackles, are really good. Sometimes positionally, that's where someone like Fred lets himself down. That's not to discredit him too much because some of the work he does do is really, really good," Ferdinand told his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show.
"But I think they need someone in there who can see the game better, who's more controlled, who's more calculated in their positioning and decision-making from a defensive perspective.
"In that role, for me, you need someone who can orchestrate – not only with the ball, I'm talking without the ball. He can position himself to stop trouble before it comes."
Fred has featured 124 times across all competitions for United since joining the club in 2018, including 48 appearances last season.
Oliver Thomas
