Arsenal Plot Summer Move for Manchester United Defender Rio Ferdinand - Report

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a shock move for Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in the summer.

The Mirror reports that Arsene Wenger is an admirer of the veteran defender, whose contract with the Red Devils is due to expire in the summer. The Frenchman wants to add more experience to his squad and hence is keen on convincing the 35-year-old to move to London on a free transfer.

Wenger currently has Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen vying for the centre-back role. Although the latter has made only seven Premier League starts this season the 64-year-old has confirmed that the Belgian international is part of his plans for the upcoming campaign.

Ferdinand is a cult figure at the centre of United's back four since moving to Old Trafford in 2002. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, the centre-back insists that he does not feel like hanging up his boots at the end of the season.

"I feel fit, I feel healthy, I feel good. I'm enjoying my football so I'll definitely be playing on for another year, hopefully two or three more. But I'll take it year by year and hopefully another year," Ferdinand told BT Sport.

Last month, the Guardian had reported that Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Besiktas are expressing their interest in signing Ferdinand alongside Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy and Qatar's Al Gharafa. But the former England international is not keen on plying his trade abroad and dreams of ending his playing days with his current employers.

"I'm happy here, I love playing my football. United's been great for me, it's enabled my dreams to come true and a lot of the things in football for me. So I have to respect whatever decision the club do, and I'll do what's best by the club," Ferdinand added.

Ferdinand's defensive colleague Nemanja Vidic is set to join Inter Milan in the summer while left-back Patrice Evra's future remains uncertain with his contract too expiring in the summer.

However, United's interim manager Ryan Giggs has requested the club's hierarchy to consider offering Ferdinand and Evra an extension.

But their future is also likely to be dependent on the candidate who will succeed David Moyes.

"I do believe they still have a part to play (next year). They are both fit and they both looked good last week. I don't see why not (one-year extension). The decision will be down to everyone - Rio, Patrice, (Executive Vice-chairman) Ed [Woodward] and whoever is the manager next year," Giggs explained.