Hull throw their name in hat for Rio Ferdinand signature

Steve Bruce, manager of FA Cup finalists Hull City (3/1 to lift the trophy), has seemingly declared interested in signing Manchester United’s legendary centre back Rio Ferdinand, who is out of contract this summer.

The 35-year-old has already stated he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, but said he is “feeling fit and healthy, ready for a new challenge and looking forward to whatever the future holds.” Thus suggesting he wants to carry on his playing career.

Bruce, also a former Red Devil icon and fellow member of the 400 appearance club for United, has not ruled out a move. He said: “We’ve cast an eye on a few things. I haven’t looked into that yet, because the news only broke last night. Rio has been a wonderful player. Who knows? If he fancies a game…”

“We’ve got Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday, so let me get over the weekend first, then I’ll see if we’ll give him a call.”

Hull will prepare life in the Premier League next season again after managing to stay up at the first time of asking, and will want to avoid going down, as they did in 2010, so signing a player of Ferdinand’s ilk would be a massive boost.

The 81-capped former England international has also been linked with a number of teams across Europe, however, as well as in the USA, but it is likely he will take his time to decide.

Coral give an odds-on price of 4/6 for his next club to be in the MLS, while his former side West Ham and fellow Londoners and Championship play-off final hopefuls QPR (evens) are joint-second favourites at 6/1.

If Italy is to be Ferdinand’s next destination, you can take odds of 50/1 for him to join either AC or Inter Milan, or 66/1 on Italian champions Juventus. Cash-rich French clubs PSG and Monaco are also good shouts, at 40/1 and 10/1 respectively.

A price of 8/1, meanwhile, has been given for him to join his brother Anton, who turns out for recently relegated side Antalyaspor, out in Turkey to play for any club next season.

Throughout his time at Manchester United, since signing for £29.1m from arch-rivals Leeds in 2002, Rio managed to win six Premier League trophies, two League Cups and the Champions League.