The veteran defender has confirmed he is leaving the club after 12 years.
Manchester United’s summer of change continued on Monday as Rio Ferdinand became the latest star to confirm he would be leaving the club.
The 35-year-old has spent 12 years at Old Trafford, winning six Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League in 2008.
Yet after a disappointing year for the Red Devils an upheaval of the squad is expected and Ferdinand joins captain Nemanja Vidic on the list of confirmed departures.
Vidic has already agreed to join Inter Milan when his contract expires in June and now his long-term central defensive partner has chosen to follow the skipper’s path.
It means United will be looking to recruit at the back and here are five targets for the club.
Ezequiel Garay
Has been linked with the English giants for some time and after guiding Benfica to the Primeira Liga title and the Europa League final, the Argentine’s price is likely to have rocketed as a result.
Formerly of Real Madrid, it wasn’t until the 27 year-old moved to the Portuguese capital in 2011 that he really started to find his feet and Garay also has 18 caps for Argentina.
Source: Sky Sports.
Matthias Ginter
There are many top sides looking at this 20 year-old after a hugely impressive year in a struggling Freiburg team and as a result Ginter has been named in the 30-man provisional squad for Germany’s World Cup campaign.
With the ability to play in central midfield as well the youngster is versatile, although United will face stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal.
Source: Mirror.
Mats Hummels
There are few better central defenders in world football currently than this Germany international, who has been in fine form for Borussia Dortmund again in 2013/14 despite spending significant chunks of the campaign injured.
At 24 years-old Hummels has plenty of time left at the top and would be the ideal replacement for Ferdinand.
Source: Mirror.
Eliaquim Mangala
Back in the Portuguese top tier now and another defender who has been greatly impressing over the last few years with FC Porto and has attracted plenty of interest as a result.
With the ability to also play at left-back Mangala could well be the most attractive prospect for the Red Devils with them likely to lose Patrice Evra in the summer as well.
Source: Manchester Evening News.
Fabian Schar
Finally it’s another youngster who has been making a name for himself with a slightly less fashionable club in the form of Swiss champions FC Basel.
The 21 year-old grabbed the attention of an English audience by helping his team to two wins over Chelsea in the Champions League group stage this season.
Source: The Week.
SEE ALSO: The top 10 best Manchester United players of all time