Rio Ferdinand predicts Man Utd's Premier League finishing position as he makes transfer point

Rio Ferdinand is backing Manchester United to rocket up the Premier League table this season - but not quite into Champions League contention. The Red Devils endured a dismal 2024/25 campaign, finishing 15th in the table, just three places above the drop zone.

Speaking on his , the United legend took a cautiously optimistic stab at predicting where his former club might finish in 2025/26. "I'm going eighth. Seventh or eighth," he said, before adding an important caveat: "Revisit this if we get one or two more signings and I might change my answer."

United have already bolstered their attack by signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and are looking to land a new centre forward before the window closes. After missing out on Liam Delap, Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike - who joined Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool respectively - the club have now turned their attention to other targets.

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They've trimmed their shortlist down to two names: Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko. Both strikers are reportedly open to a move to Old Trafford, though no official approaches have been made yet.

With Marcus Rashford loaned out to Barcelona and confidence in Rasmus Hojlund waning - amid speculation that he too could leave - the club are short on firepower. Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho are also expected to be offloaded, making attacking reinforcements a top priority.

But there's a financial balancing act at play, particularly amid ongoing Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns. United have already spent £133.5million this summer - more than Manchester City and Tottenham, and just £2m shy of Arsenal's total outlay - and a big-money striker signing could push their expenditure close to the £200m mark.

RB Leipzig are holding out for over £60m for Sesko, while Aston Villa are expected to demand a similar fee for Watkins. Slovenian international Sesko, who netted 21 goals in all competitions last season, had previously been in talks with Arsenal, though the Gunners ultimately pivoted to Gyokeres.

Liverpool and Chelsea have since cooled their interest in the 22-year-old, but Newcastle remain in the hunt. The Magpies have identified him as their top target should Alexander Isak be sold to Liverpool. While Newcastle hope to retain their star striker, Isak is pushing for a move, casting doubt over his future at St James' Park.

United, meanwhile, are not pursuing Isak, having been deterred by Newcastle's mammoth £150m valuation. Liverpool, however, are optimistic that the fee could be negotiated down due to the player's desire to leave.

As for Watkins, United have long admired the 29-year-old, who netted 16 Premier League goals last term. Although he once described playing for Arsenal as his "dream" back in 2020, Gyokeres' arrival in north London makes that scenario unlikely - leaving United in pole position if they choose to make a serious move.

United ended last season 19 points behind Brighton in eighth and a hefty 23 off Nottingham Forest in seventh - so they'll need to improve dramatically for Ferdinand's forecast to become reality.

That said, 2024/25 was a major outlier: it marked the only time the club have finished outside the top eight in the Premier League era, with their last comparable slump being a 13th-place finish back in 1989/90.

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