Ezri Konsa was part of the Arsenal backline that kept a clean sheet at Liverpool with Rio Ferdinand hailing the England defender - as he wished he was at Manchester United

Rio Ferdinand admits Ezri Konsa is a "top, top player" as he bemoaned the fact the defender has not ended up at Manchester United - who desperately need reinforcements at the back.

Konsa, now an England regular, had impressed at Aston Villa for years and Arsenal made the decision to pay £55million for the versatile star. With William Saliba still dealing with the injury he sustained in the summer Konsa has slotted in right alongside Gabriel.

Mikel Arteta's side have not missed a beat and still look like the best defensive unit in Europe, even without arguably the best centre-half in Europe. Konsa's quality was again on display as the Gunners kept a clean sheet in their win at Anfield on Sunday.

Ferdinand has waxed lyrical about the ex-Villa man, telling his son to learn from him, and maintaining that he should remain in the starting XI once Saliba returns. However his major frustration is that United, who spent their £155m summer budget purely on midfielders, have missed another top player.

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He said on his YouTube channel: "I think William Saliba is one of those guys that you have to find room for in the team. He’s that good, he’s top. I said to my son yesterday, 'watch Ezri Konsa', because everything he does is efficient. That’s a great problem for Mikel Arteta to have.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if Konsa goes back to right-back once Saliba comes back. I wouldn’t be surprised because Konsa is top. He’s a top, top player and another one I thought Manchester United should have got because he’s a top player.

"He’s giving Mikel Arteta some big decisions to make and big headaches because he’s slipped in seamlessly and put in some big performances. What a signing he’s been for Arsenal."

United's decisions in the summer are already coming back to haunt them with the Red Devils backline coming in for criticism. Michael Carrick failed to land the left-back he wanted to cover for Luke Shaw, which has already caused him problems with his team selection.

Those playing at the heart of defence have also been deemed not good enough given the team's ambitions. They languish down in 17th and the likes of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez have been at the club for years. Leny Yoro, signed with a long-term view in mind back in 2024, is the last centre-half the club signed.

The club's plan had been to address their defence next summer after bolstering their midfield recently, and their attack 12 months prior, but they could be forced into the market such are their struggles at the back.