'It's a gamble' - Man Utd slammed for agreeing to sell Scott McTominay as legend Rio Ferdinand says Red Devils 'need' players like him to win Premier League

United have reportedly agreed to sell the 27-year-old to the Italian outfit for £25 million ($34m), but the Scotland international is yet to agree personal terms. Ahead of a possible move, former Red Devils defender Ferdinand has expressed his concern about letting academy product McTominay go as he says replacing him may cost around £40m ($53m).

He said on his YouTube channel: "I look at Scott McTominay and not every player can be a star, a standout player. But to win the league you need the likes of John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher… you need a Julian Alvarez at Man City. They might not start every game but they were huge, you need those players and most of them know the DNA of the club, especially ones who have come through the academy, there’s a lot to be said for that. It really doesn’t sit well with me. To replace him you’re going to have to spend £30m or £40m and give him £150,000 a week probably. It’s not going to be cheap and it’s a gamble, you don’t know what you’re going to get, whereas with McTominay you know what you’re getting. He might not always be a nine out of 10 but invariably he’s a solid seven out of 10 and sometimes he will be an eight out of 10 and get you a goal."

McTominay is in the last year of his contract and the Red Devils are certainly open to selling the Scot - who would go down as pure profit on the balance sheet as he is an academy product. He scored 10 goals last term and finding a replacement may not be easy, but his sale could help fund the purchase of Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte.

Having come off the bench in all three of their competitive games this season, McTominay may have had his last outing for United. The next time they take to the field will be at home to Liverpool on September 1 - two days after the summer transfer window shuts.