Gary Neville: 'Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand departures are big risk'

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has claimed that the club are taking a "big risk" by allowing Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to leave this summer.

Vidic has agreed to join Inter Milan on a free transfer, while Ferdinand will not be offered a fresh deal at Old Trafford.

Neville believes that the exit of the two defenders will hit the club hard.

"I think it's a big risk losing Vidic and Rio at the same time," the Manchester Evening News quotes him as saying.

"There are young centre-backs coming through, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling. And I think if we're signing a new centre-back coming from a different country who hasn't played here before, the idea of having a stalwart there would help.

"I think it's a risk. But we'll see how that pans out."

Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels and Benfica's Ezequiel Garay are reportedly on the shortlist of new United manager Louis van Gaal.