Rio Ferdinand Believes Manchester United Will Sign Highly-Rated Midfielder

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes the club will complete the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin sooner rather than later.

Schneiderlin is expected to leave Southampton this summer, and has been quoted as saying he is close to completing a move, having previously said he will only leave St. Mary's for a Premier League club in the Champions League.

Reports last week in the UK suggested Manchester United have already agreed a deal worth around £25million, and while those reports seem to have been a little premature, with Southampton manager Ronald Koeman insisting the club are yet to receive a "serious offer", it does look like the France international will eventually move to Old Trafford.

Ferdinand concurs. "It looks like it's going to be done, £20-something million," Ferdinand remarked in his YouTube channel.

The former United centre-back believes Schneiderlin is just the kind of signing that Manchester United require, especially with Louis Van Gaal over-reliant on Michael Carrick to play in the holding midfield position.

"He's a player who could add something to United, a bit of steel, can pass the ball and play it through the lines from back to front," Ferdinand added.

"I think he's a good player, a good addition to the squad, especially if someone like Carrick, who is so influential for United, gets injured.

"I think this guy can step in and help buffer that. I think he's a very good, talented player."

Arsenal were also thought to be in the running for the signature of Schneiderlin, but Arsene Wenger has reportedly pulled out of the potential move after deeming the asking fee to be too expensive.