Paul Pogba has been advised to make a choice on his Manchester United future, with Rio Ferdinand admitting that a distracting saga is doing the “topsy-turvy” Red Devils few favours.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen an upturn in fortune of late, with his side back in the mix for a top-four end whilst additionally progressing through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and last sixteen of the Europa League.

Efforts on the field are, however, being played out towards a backdrop of Pogba-related rumours .

The World Cup-winning midfielder, who has been limited to just eight appearances by injury this season , continues to be closely linked with a move away from Old Trafford.

Ferdinand desires to see that speculation brought to a shut so that definitive plans can be drawn up, with the former defender telling BT Sport : “I suppose that is a dialog that needs to be occurring between Man United and Pogba.

“Does he desire to stay or go? Does Ole want to keep him? Once this is ironed out you can construct your team.”

Solskjaer has continued to bolster his ranks in what remains a long-term rebuilding mission at the Theatre of Dreams.

Ferdinand concedes that there is no rapid restoration to be observed in Manchester, regardless of what occurs with Pogba, with United nonetheless very much a work in progress.

He added: “They understood as a team that it wasn’t going to appear overnight. I assume this team are turning the corner however it is a sluggish process.

“It’s not some thing we can look at and go right, ‘that’s a massive exchange and Man United are back winning trophies’.

“This is a gradual burn, though, after a few years of topsy-turvy times.”

The Red Devils kept themselves in the hunt for extra major silverware on Thursday with a 3-0 win over Wayne Rooney’s Derby , with January signing Odion Ighalo adding two extra goals to his tally.

Ferdinand is thrilled to see the Nigerian frontman making an instantaneous impact after eyebrows have been raised at his deadline-day arrival.

The ex- England international said: “People, and myself included, were probably wondering Odion Ighalo, where does he suit into all of this?

“If you have an opportunity to sign a player at the opening of the January window, he is not the man you are going to sign however what he does bring is a point.

“A point where they can focus and play into him from the midfield. He gives the platform to run off. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial want the ball in behind and no longer to bring people in.”