MANCHESTER UNITED’S search for a director of football has seen them discuss going after the man who helped Leicester win the Premier League. United have spent 18 months trying to find the right person to oversee the footballing operation at Old Trafford and spearhead a huge new structure at the club. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward […]
MANCHESTER UNITED’S search for a director of football has seen them discuss going after the man who helped Leicester win the Premier League.
United have spent 18 months trying to find the right person to oversee the footballing operation at Old Trafford and spearhead a huge new structure at the club.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has accelerated that process since the departure of Jose Mourinho, who had been resisting the change in the way the football side worked.
Club legend Rio Ferdinand is one of those he has spoken to about the position – with the former defender admitting he would be interested in the job.
But the Mail claim Woodward and his advisers have also talked about the prospect of targeting former Leicester chief scout Steve Walsh.
During his time at the King Power Stadium, Walsh was responsible for identifying Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez as players the club should sign.
It was his network and vision which highlighted the trio as talents who would thrive in the top flight.
And all three played a vital role in leading Leicester to their shock title victory three years ago, with Walsh given much of the credit for their arrivals.
It led to Everton poaching him to oversee their operations when they appointed Ronald Koeman – but he left amid criticism of the quality of players they signed for £150m.
However, the report says there is a belief that Walsh carried the can unfairly for other people’s decisions when it came to transfers at Goodison Park.
And it suggests Woodward and his team have looked into whether he would be the right figurehead for a new era at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand revealed at the weekend how he had spoken in depth with his former club about making a return in the key role.
But SunSport revealed earlier how one of the country’s leading experts in the field has warned the ex-defender he would need to give up all his other TV and commercial activities to concentrate on the job.
