West Ham boss refuses to rule out shock move for Man Utd star

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Friday, October 26, 2012
7:40 AM

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has refused to rule out a move to bring Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand to Upton Park.

Former Hammers defender Rio Ferdinand, whose contract at the Red Devils expires next summer, has been the latest big-name player linked with the east Londoners.

And although Allardyce reckons a deal is unlikely, he did not rule out taking the 33-year-old back to his boyhood club.

He said: “I wouldn’t know at this stage of the season, it’s highly unlikely that we would consider Rio Ferdinand at the moment.

“But if it’s at the end of the season and he hasn’t got a new contract, and he is released by Manchester United, then we would be interested - if we can sustain our Premier League status.

“If he wants to live back in London eventually, which is where he comes from, which you know perhaps quite a few players want to do when they come to the end of their careers, then that is an advantage for us.

“The chairman likes to think big as well, which is a nice thing. It’s nice to have a chairman that thinks big.

“Everything has to be in place. If Rio wanted to come back, then a financial package (would need to be arranged) and so forth, and whether Manchester United wanted to release him or not.”

It would not be the first high-profile signing Allardyce has pulled off if it happened.

The likes of Kevin Nolan moved down a division to join West Ham while they were in the npower Championship, and since achieving promotion they have managed to secure a loan deal for Liverpool’s £35million striker Andy Carroll.