Rio Ferdinand to QPR: Former Manchester United and England defender expected to rejoin Harry Redknapp at Loftus Road

Ferdinand, 35, is expected to sign a deal in the next 24 hours

Rio Ferdinand could retire at the end of the season when his Manchester united contract expires to move into TV punditry (GETTY IMAGES)

Rio Ferdinand is expected to sign a deal to join Queens Park Rangers.

The 35-year-old was released from Manchester United at the end of last season.

Ferdinand will be reunited with Harry Redknapp, who gave the defender his debut with West Ham in 1996.

The former England defender has been persuaded to take a huge cut in wages, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

Ferdinand, currently working in Brazil as a BBC World Cup pundit, had other offers in England and abroad, but rejoining Redknapp and moving back to London has swayed him.

After making his debut at Upton Park, Ferdinand grew to become one of the best defenders in the world, before moving to Leeds as the world's most expensive defender for £18m in 2000.

He then moved to Old Trafford for £30m - making him the most expensive British player ever and the world's most expensive defender for a second time.

In 12 trophy-laden seasons at United Ferdinand won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, one FA Cup, two League Cups and the Club World Cup.

Ferdinand eventually played 455 times for United.

He has been named in the PFA Team of the Year six times and won 81 caps in a 15-year England career, playing at three World Cups.