West Ham return for Rio Ferdinand interests Allardyce

Oct 26, 2012 8:11:00 AM

With the 33-year-old’s contract due to run out at the end of the season, the Hammers boss has suggested that his club could make a move for the former Upton Park favourite

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has suggested that he could make a move for Rio Ferdinand next summer if the Manchester United defender becomes a free agent.

The 33-year-old is yet to extend his contract at Old Trafford, which is currently set to expire at the end of June, and Goal.com exclusively revealed on Monday that United are set to slash Ferdinand’s £120,000-a-weel wages by around half in a 12-month package.

FERDINANDS DISAPPOINTED WITH PFA

The Brothers released a statement making clear their opinion that not enough has been done to tackle racism, in light of abuse suffered by Anton.

However, Allardyce, while pessimistic, has admitted to being interested in the prospect of the centre-back returning to the club he started his professional career.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that we would consider Rio Ferdinand at the moment,” Allardyce told reporters.

“But if it’s at the end of the season and he hasn’t got a new contract and he is going to leave Manchester United then we would be interested if we can sustain our Premier League status. It depends entirely on Rio.

“The chairman likes to think big and it’s nice to have a chairman who thinks big.

“Everything has to be in place. If Rio wants to come back, the financial package and so on and so forth and whether they want to release him or not.

“If he wants to live back in London eventually, which is where he comes from, which is what quite a few players like to do before the end of their careers then that might be an advantage for us.”

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