Race for Manchester United Ace Rio Ferdinand Spurs on

Posted Sunday, October 09, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Race for Manchester United Ace Rio Ferdinand Spurs on
Above: Spurs manager Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp will fight fire with fire to persuade Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand to turn his back on a move to America and switch to Tottenham in the next transfer window.

Chicago Fire want Ferdinand (left) to follow David Beckham to the MLS and the England defender is said to be weighing up his next move.

A source close to the player said: “Rio has some thinking to do concerning his future. He still has plenty of ambition and playing in America would certainly open up a new chapter in his life.

“But he respects Harry. He had a big influence on Rio as he progressed as a footballer at West Ham.”

Since United’s capture of Phil Jones, 21, many think that the writing is on the wall for Ferdinand, 32, who is out of contract at the end of next season.

The Spurs boss tried to sign him last year and after the failed move he said: “It’s about getting characters in. Chelsea have done it with John Terry or Frank Lampard and Man United have it with Ryan Giggs, Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.”

The former Leeds ace has struggled with injury for the past three years but that has not stopped Redknapp trying to talk the England centre-back into moving to north London.