Is Rio Ferdinand worth a contract extension?

When I read that Sir Alex Ferguson was in no hurry to offer Rio Ferdinand a new contract it got me thinking, is he really worth one?

The 34-year-old's current deal expires at the end of this season meaning that he is allowed to discuss terms with other clubs as of now, and despite publicly announcing that he is committed to Manchester United and hopeful a new deal will be sorted soon, his gaffer has said that there is no rush.

Ferdinand has been one of the top defenders in the English game for almost his entire career, and if he didn't have a back resembling a 90-year-old woman then he may have even had a bigger impact on world football.

Cast your mind back when Ferdinand was paired alongside Nemanja Vidic to make one of the most solid defences in Europe. Vidic brought the steel and aggression whilst Rio picked up the pieces and used his composure on the ball to sweep the play away from their goal, but now combined with the likes of Jonny Evans in the centre of the United back-line, those memories seem immensely distant.

For one, Ferdinand has lost almost all of his pace. Those long, lanky legs that used to allow him to gallop at a remarkable speed now show him to be a Bambi-like character and as well as his arrogant attitude, his focus and positioning have also come into questioning.

Ferdinand may not be the greatest player in the Premier League, but Manchester United's need for an experienced head in their dodgy defence is massive, and the former West Ham man provides that in abundance.

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