Rio Ferdinand has warned Erik ten Hag against pursuing a deal for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana as he fears a transfer could backfire.

Ten Hag is keen to sign another midfielder before the transfer window closes on September 1, with Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat currently the prime candidate likely to arrive at Old Trafford. United had new signing Mason Mount make his debut against Wolves for their Premier League opener on Monday night, though their midfield came in for criticism after the match.

Gary Neville commented on United’s display, claiming Casemiro had been “torn to shreds” in the middle of the park, and suggested Amrabat’s signing would eradicate a repeat of the problem going forward. Toffees star Onana is another player who United’s recruitment team have identified as a potential target, though Ferdinand has urged his old club against a move.

He told his Vibe with Five podcast: “McTominay upgrade? What is he, tell me what he is? Onana is not a holder, he’s not a destroyer. Every single attribute listed, that’s not Ten Hag to me. Ten Hag’s about playing through the lines, playing off angles.

“I think he has really good attributes but I don’t think for Man Utd. It’s like Fellaini, it’s like buying Fellaini again for Manchester United.”

United swooped to sign Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton back in 2013 at the start of David Moyes’ ill-fated era and he quickly became a scapegoat for many of United’s problems, somewhat unfairly.

Few needed any help identifying United’s problems in their 1-0 win over Wolves on Monday night, as the Reds Devils found themselves fortunate to escape with all three points. Raphael Varane’s late goal sealed a crucial win, but it was not enough to mask the gaping holes in United’s midfield.

Offering his thoughts on what United needed, Neville said on Sky Sports: “One thing he [Ten Hag]’s not going to do is go back to the Fred and McTominay style of midfield because they can’t play the ball properly. He wants everybody on that pitch to be able to play the ball his way.

“What I will say is Amrabat could come in and play alongside Casemiro, perhaps give him some help. Look, he got absolutely torn to shreds tonight Casemiro, Manchester United’s midfield were non-existent, they got ripped apart by Wolves.

“Last season when they got emptied in midfield, they moved Fernandes forward and ended up putting Fred or McTominay in alongside Casemiro to be more solid. He wants to get away from that and that’s why he has signed Mason Mount. But I think in certain games he will be forced to bring another midfielder in to play alongside Casemiro to handle the ball.”Ten Hag has already sanctioned the departure of Fred this summer, as well as youngster Zidane Iqbal. Donny van de Beek looks set to be the next midfielder to move on amid reports of a potential return to Ajax who have entered the race along with Real Sociedad.

Amrabat has been linked with a switch to United all summer, though the Moroccan international has attracted a number of admirers elsewhere, including Liverpool.