One of These 5 May Replace Rio Ferdinand

Via Bleacher Report

 
Manchester United's veteran defender Rio Ferdinand continues to push to be at the top of his game for the Red Devils.

However, at the age of 33 the out of favor England international is no longer looked to as a first choice for his country and he is beginning to be less and less a first choice for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

His recent controversial incident over the 'Kick it Out' anti-racism campaign has also cast a doubt on his status with the club and his manager according to the Telegraph.

With his career in red looking to be winding down here is a look at five potential replacements for the veteran defender that has been such a massive part of the club's success over the last decade.

Stoke City and former Manchester United youth player Ryan Shawcross has been linked with a return to his former club by British news outlet Sport as well as other sources in the past two weeks.

The strong English defender has been a first team player in the English Premier League for half a decade and at only 25 years of age he is more than capable of a step up in club stature.

According to BBC Sport however, his manager Tony Pulis claims that Shawcross is going nowhere.

 Borussia Dortmund star defender Mats Hummels was linked with Manchester United this summer and the rumors of his potential move appear to have resurfaced on Goal.com.

Sources for the news outlet claim that the play refuses to rule out a move if the deal is right for both him and Dortmund, according to Sky Sports 

 

Although Mats Hummels has been the most recent Borussia Dortmund defender linked to Manchester United, his counterpart at the Bundesliga club Neven Subotic was picked by Metro to replace Rio Ferdinand during the previous January transfer window as well as over the summer.

Schalke 04 defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos was linked with Manchester United in the summer transfer period by Sky Sports.Although at the time the player played down a potential move to Manchester United, the Greek defender could be a long term replacement for the veteran English center back.

.Atletico  Madrid and Uruguayan international defender Diego Godin was linked with Manchester City as well as Chelsea and Liverpool this summer by the Daily Express.

Although there are no official links to Manchester United with the player, he could be a much more cost effective replacement.