Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to modernise Manchester United (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans on copying Chelsea’s transfer blueprint by hiring multiple sporting directors at Old Trafford.
The 71-year-old is on the cusp of completing a £1.3bn investment in the Red Devils, which will see him take a 25% stake alongside the Glazers.
As part of the deal, Ratcliffe will be given control of football operations.
Richard Arnold, the club’s CEO, is set to leave by the end of the year in a move that he claims is not connected to Ratcliffe’s impending arrival.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that Ratcliffe plans on changing personnel at board level and one of his main priorities is modernising United’s recruitment.
Ratcliffe had been expected to appoint a sole sporting director, who would be given significant control over transfers so that Erik ten Hag could focus on managing the first team.
Boehly has overseen £1.4bn of spending (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
But TalkSPORT say Ratcliffe will copy the model set out by Todd Boehly at Chelsea by hiring multiple directors.
Boehly has overseen £1.4bn of spending since his takeover of the club, and Chelsea are on their fourth manager in less than two years.
But Ratcliffe feels multiple sporting directors could help United reverse their success in the transfer market over recent years.
Paul Mitchell, the former Monaco transfer guru, is under consideration while Paolo Maldini is another name in the frame.
Dougie Freedman, the Crystal Palace director, has impressed Ratcliffe and reportedly has Sir Alex Ferguson’s backing.
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