Manchester United to appoint new sporting director following Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquiring stake in the club: report

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Manchester United are looking to shakeup their backroom team, with a new expert in place to assist Erik ten Hag

Prospective Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe pictured during the signing of an investment pact between chemicals group Ineos and the Antwerp harbor, Tuesday 15 January 2019 in Antwerp.
Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Image credit: DIRK WAEM/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United are set to appoint a new sporting director, should Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid to invest in the club is successful.

According to Sky Sports, INEOS entrepreneur Ratcliffe is to pay £1.3 billion for a 25 per cent stake in the club, of which he is a lifelong fan. The 70-year-old is already the owner of Ligue 1 Nice and has been attempting to buy Manchester United since they were put up for sale by the Glazers, having failed to acquire Chelsea when Clearlake Capital beat him to the punch.

The hugely unpopular Glazers are set to remain as the majority stakeholders of the Red Devils – but there could be good news for United fans in the shape of someone coming into the club to improve the footballing side of the business. 

Manchester United co-chairmen Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer (L) prepare to watch the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 11, 2015. Manchester United won the game 3-1.

Manchester United co-chairmen Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer look set to remain at Old Trafford (Image credit: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

According to talkSPORT, Ratcliffe plans to install a sporting director at United, should he acquire his stake.

United do not have such a role within their backroom at current. The closest thing they have is a Football Director, in John Murtogh.

VIDEO: Why The Glazers Have Set Man United Up To Fail

Interim manager for the 2021/22 season, Ralf Rangnick, was supposed to be stepping into a consultancy role following his spell in the dugout to help incoming boss Erik ten Hag with recruitment – but reneged on the deal after a disappointing spell in charge of the club. 

Now, Paul Mitchell, who has had spells at Tottenham and Monaco, is potentially in the frame to take over. 

Paul Mitchell

Paul Mitchell could join Manchester United (Image credit: Getty)

Mitchell is linked to a move to Old Trafford following widespread acclaim for his career, where he's helped unearth the likes of Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min.

Petrochemicals billionaire Ratcliffe wanted to buy all of the Glazers' 67 per cent shareholding – but this compromise could be the first phase of a full takeover. 

More Manchester United stories

A former Manchester United player has likened the current state of the club's training ground to that of a League One club.

Meanwhile, one of the club's major summer signings appears to already be having doubts about his move to Old Trafford.

And Jadon Sancho is reportedly still fuming with Erik ten Hag after the pair's falling out last month.

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.