The process of bringing in a “director of football” is underway again for Ed Woodward.
It writes The Telegraph.
Woodward and United’s search for a sporting director who should have a strong voice around transfers has been written about since José Mourinho was fired two years ago.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær and the rest of his team must, however, have impressed so much on the transfer front in the last transfer windows that Woodward will now instead look for a director. A director who can take on a somewhat fluid role without compromising the current structure of the club.
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The signings of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Daniel James and especially Bruno Fernandes should have impressed the United leaders. The search for what will be one of the most prestigious jobs in the sports world will now largely revolve around, among other things, recruitment, the training facility at Carrington and the women’s team at Manchester United.
The Telegraph writes that the position in this way will be unique when it comes to work tasks. United is not looking for a sports director who will try to change the culture in the club, but rather one who will be part of the existing system around Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Barta is among the sporting directors who, according to the Telegraph, may be tempted to work for one of the world’s biggest clubs, while Juventus’ Fabio Paratici and former PSG director Antero Henrique have also been linked with the job.
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MIGHTY: Antero Henrique has previously been linked with the job of sporting director at Manchester United.
Photo: Franck Fife (AFP)
Solskjær’s signings are said to have impressed United tops
Much of the reason why Manchester United now do not want a sporting director who will change the transfer strategy is probably because many high up in the club hierarchy are very happy with the new strategy that was staked out after Mourinho left the club.
Signings of big and well-established stars such as Alexis Sánchez have been replaced with a desire to sign young and promising players – preferably also British.
The sports director who may enter the gates of Old Trafford during the summer would rather work with the current solitaire, which includes Solskjær and his coaching staff, scouts, data analysis and Matt Judge, who is responsible for negotiating possible transfers.
PERSONAL TRIUMPH? Several claim that the signing of Bruno Fernandes is largely due to Ed Woodward.
Photo: Oli Scarff (AFP)
The challenge for Woodward will be to find the right person. Similar in role in other clubs includes finding the right players for the head coach, which means that the sporting director has a great influence on how the club plays football.
In United’s case, however, it’s more about finding a candidate who will be part of the current system, rather than finding someone who can turn around the plans and direction that were staked out when Mourinho disappeared from the club.
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Want Sancho
The Telegraph writes that United still want to sign Jadon Sancho, but the newspaper claims that there may also be more replacements at Old Trafford, and that the midfielder is also an area the club wants to strengthen.
One player who may disappear from the club is Jesse Lingard. The midfielder has had a difficult season, and recently opened up about problems off the field.
– At the beginning of the season, I had some episodes off the field that I had to deal with privately. I talked to the manager about it, and he understood it, he says and continues.
– When I played, I was not one hundred percent concentrated. In the back of my mind various things were grinding, and I was not mentally fully present. The lockdown period suited me really well, because then I could really evaluate the things that had happened.
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