“Let’s be honest, things are not looking good at Old Trafford at the moment. I have said this before and I will say it again, There’s need for a complete reform in the way things are done at Man United ” – This is according to Rio Ferdinand has he openly shared his thoughts after Sir Jim Ratcliffe was left with no choice but to discontinue one of his proposed projects at Manchester United.

Rio Ferdinand Urges Manchester United to Aim for Top Eight Finish After Tough Season

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United should realistically target a finish between sixth and eighth in the Premier League next season. The club endured a miserable 2024/25 campaign, ending up 15th in the table and failing to secure any domestic or European trophies.

Despite the underwhelming season, new manager Rúben Amorim—who replaced Erik ten Hag in November—appears to have the board’s support. Amorim inherited a disjointed team and had limited funds to begin reshaping the squad due to Ten Hag’s heavy spending on players like Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt in the previous transfer window.

Financial restrictions linked to Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) also limited United’s January transfer activity. As a result, Amorim could only secure left-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce for £25.1 million and youngster Ayden Heaven from Arsenal in a deal worth around £1 million.

Now, with the summer window underway, Amorim seems to have the club’s backing. United have already invested £62.5 million in forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves as they look to reinforce the team for the upcoming season.

Ferdinand, speaking to Mirror Football, shared his thoughts on what constitutes a reasonable target for the next campaign. “After finishing 15th, United need to be pushing for a spot in the top six to eight. I can’t see anything less being acceptable,” he said. “That’s coming from someone who was only used to competing for titles at the club, so it’s a big adjustment.”

The former defender also commented on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ambitious “Project 150” plan, which aimed for a Premier League title by 2028 to coincide with the club’s 150th anniversary. However, given United’s current state, Ferdinand suggested that timeline may be overly optimistic. Amorim likely needs more time to restore the club’s status as a top contender, particularly with rivals continuing to strengthen.

A club source previously told The Mirror that Amorim initially believed he could get more from the existing squad, but the harsh reality has since set in. “It’s been difficult viewing for fans, and rebuilding will require both time and patience,” the source said. “You’d have to be either very brave or a bit naive to think United can win the league within three years from where they are now.”

Amid the uncertainties at United, Ferdinand has turned his attention to a new project off the pitch. He recently launched the “Career Transfer Hub” in collaboration with Talking Futures, aiming to encourage families—especially parents—to engage in more open discussions with teenagers about educational and career planning.

Reflecting on the initiative, he said, “It’s all about helping parents and kids talk more about what’s next, particularly when it comes to education. We talk about football all the time at home, but education doesn’t come up as easily. This project gives families a practical way to start that conversation. I wish I had something like this when I was younger—though I had football, which gave me a path.”