SIR JIM RATCLIFFE plans to make several changes to Manchester United’s recruitment team, it’s understood.
The Ineos chief is set to take over football operations at the club once his 25 per cent stake is ratified.
There have already been changes at board level with CEO Richard Arnold set to depart – Jean-Claude Blanc is expected to arrive as his replacement.
Ineos chief Sir Dave Brailsford is set for a strategic role at United, according to the Daily Mail – he previously worked in cycling before heading football operations at Nice, the Ligue 1 club owned by Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe is reportedly considering appointing two senior recruitment executives, placing John Murtough’s future at the club under doubt.
Former Liverpool transfer guru Michael Edwards is being eyed along with Paul Michell, who has impressed with his work at Tottenham, Southampton and most recently Monaco.
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Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth is also a target but is likely to stay in his current role.
Ratcliffe wants transfer recruitment to have a greater focus on signing British players as Ineos feel they are better suited to the rigours of the English game.
He is keen for the core of the squad to have a British element, to add to the likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
However one Englishman Jadon Sancho looks set to depart in January following his fall out with Erik ten Hag.
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In terms of broader changes, Ratcliffe is said to be setting £250million aside to beef up the club’s infrastructure and potentially put his stamp on the recruitment team.
He also plans to back Ten Hag in the transfer market once again, with the Briton said to have the back of the ex-Ajax boss.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
