Former Man United favourite among four tipped for DoF role

Manchester United have identified an initial four candidates for their planned director of football role.

A difficult summer transfer window appears to have convinced Man United that a director of football is needed at the club, with manager Jose Mourinho and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward clashing over signings.

The pair had conflicting ideas over how to strengthen United ahead of the new Premier League season, with the club reportedly vetoing a number of Mourinho’s suggested deals.

The Independent claims that United have already ‘started preliminary work’ as they look to install a director of football to avoid similar issues in the future.

Miguel Delaney says it ‘is seen as one of the most important appointments in the club’s history,’ and that it ‘may well represent one of the biggest jobs in world football’.

United are already ‘sounding out potential candidates’, with Roma’s Monchi and Fabio Paratici of Juventus ‘currently the most desired options’.

Both would be difficult to bring to Old Trafford however, while former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, now at Ajax, ‘viewed favourably’.

Another candidate is Domenico Teti, sporting director at Serie B side Novara. Teti is ‘highly respected’ in his native Italy, with one of his most notable successes being that of Mauro Icardo, who he brought from Barcelona B to Sampdoria.

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