Rio Ferdinand feels Luke Shaw's comments speak volumes about Man Utd under Ruben Amorim

Rio Ferdinand believes Luke Shaw's recent "stragglers" remark about Manchester United shows the club is moving in the right direction. Ruben Amorim has been clearing the decks at Old Trafford while trying to reinforce the squad with his own signings - the first of which being Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

Commenting on the new-look United, Shaw said there are no "stragglers anymore" within the Portuguese boss' set-up. Among the United head coach's initial moves was exiling the notorious 'Bomb Squad' which included Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford. The latter has since secured a loan move to Barcelona, whilst the remaining trio, who were excluded from United's pre-season tour across the USA, are still expected to be sold or loaned.

During the previous campaign, Sancho, Antony and Rashford were farmed out on loan to Chelsea, Real Betis and Aston Villa respectively, whilst Garnacho was sternly told to leave after openly criticising Amorim following United's Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.

On his podcast, the former United star responded to Shaw's observations, having also seen United's pre-season training camp up close and personal. The ex-England man said: "It was quite a damning statement, wasn't it? When I heard that, I was like, 'I wonder what the next meet-up is going to be like if he sees any of those guys.' I think I'd have had something to say about that if I thought it was about me.

"Then you go, 'Maybe they don't say anything, because they might think and know it is true.' But there's a confidence in there with him that goes, 'You know what? They know that I know what went wrong. So I can say this with my chest.'

"That's what it feels like. Also, the environment he is feeling now would have to be a positive one for him to come out and speak like that."

Discussing Shaw's influence at the club, Ferdinand added: "His stature within the squad, I noticed it while I was on tour. He has a very strong stature within the squad. He's been there, I think, over 10 years now.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express MUFC newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here

"He has seen it all there. All the bad times, he's seen it. He is one of the most experienced and most Manchester United players within that squad. So, I don't think he has any qualms coming out like that.

"I think you have to have seen enough to be able to go and talk like that. So I think it's a strong statement. I don't think there's any two that he's directed at those four players, because they are the ones sitting on the outside."

United endured a difficult season, finishing 15th with only 42 points and 44 goals, while also losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. However, the Red Devils are showing promising signs, having clinched victory in the Premier League Summer Series across the pond in the USA.

They triumphed over West Ham United with a 2-1 win and then beat Bournemouth 4-1, before being held to a 2-2 draw by Everton. Naturally, the true test will be their performance as the Premier League season kicks off. Their initial fixtures present a formidable challenge, with home games against Arsenal, Burnley and Chelsea, and away matches at Fulham, Manchester City and Brentford making up their first six matches.