Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to overhaul football operations at Manchester United as he closes on buying a 25 per cent stake in the club, with a familiar face his top target to be the club's new sporting director

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Jim Ratcliffe's potential Man Utd investment assessed | Football Digest

Manchester United face stiff competition from several Saudi Pro League outfits in their bid to take Paul Mitchell as their new sporting director.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to bring someone to the role as he closes in on buying a 25 per cent stake in United, with Mitchell understood to be top of the list. He is out of work after leaving Ligue 1 side Monaco earlier this year and has an impressive track record, having helped take Dele Alli and Heung-min Son to Tottenham and Sadio Mane to Southampton.

But United aren't the only ones fluttering their eyelids at the 42-year-old, with Saudi sides now looking to recruit directors of football of their own rather than using a central figure, as most have so far.

The big-spending clubs are determined to be better equipped to compete in the transfer market and that means bringing in the right recruitment people as well as the big-name players.

United boss Erik ten Hag said this week he has had no role whatsoever in talks surrounding Ratcliffe's PS1.4billion bid.

Asked on Friday if he had been involved in any of the talks surrounding Ratcliffe's proposed bid, Ten Hag said: "No. So I'm not involved in this. Others in the club are dealing with this. I'm focusing on my team, focusing on the current block [of games] and the most important priority is the next game, it's all about that."

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