13 The first port of call for Manchester United's new co-owners INEOS has been trying to get the behind-the-scenes structure right before they take charge of their first summer transfer window.
The club's haphazard approach to the market ever since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired has seen a succession of stylistically different managers come in and overpay for big-name players with the ploy not quite clicking.
The team is still full of players brought in by previous managers, some of whom do not fit Erik ten Hag's style, and the majority of players the Dutchman has brought in have also been quite disappointing.
The new-look team will control recruitment while also deciding upon a stable style of play that will be followed throughout the club.
New-look team being put in place The Red Devils will have a new CEO in the form of Omar Berrada from Manchester City, and Jason Wilcox, former City academy chief as technical director.
Dan Ashworth is desperate to join as sporting director from Newcastle United with both parties currently embroiled in a legal tussle as the clubs try and agree a compensation package.
The Magpies had hoped to get Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman in place of the former Brighton chief but as per Football Insider, the former Nottingham Forest has turned down the proposal, opting to stay back at Selhurst Park.
Incidentally, the 20-time English league champions were looking at bringing Freedman to Old Trafford as their new recruitment chief after Sir Alex recommended his name.
"Dougie Freedman has rejected an offer from Newcastle to replace Dan Ashworth as sporting director and will stay at Crystal Palace, sources have told Football Insider.
"Freedman, who impressed the Tyneside club with his work at Crystal Palace, has now chosen to remain at Selhurst Park.
"The Scot, who took the Palace sporting director job in 2017, was high on the shortlist at Newcastle due to his ability to buy and develop top young talent.
"Freedman has also been linked with a potential move to Man United under the new Sir Jim Ratcliffe regime at Old Trafford."
Newcastle suffer another big blow Freedman has certainly done a fine job with Palace's shoestring budget, bringing in the likes of Michael Olise from Reading, Eberechi Eze from QPR and Marc Guehi from Swansea (loan) for peanuts.
There were talks that the trio could follow the Scot to St James' Park but that looks unlikely at this point. All three are also targets for United.
It has not been a good work off the pitch for Newcastle with the complicated Ashworth situation and now news of Freedman turning them down. They will need to keep looking for the right replacement.
Whether United re-enter the scene for Freedman will be interesting to watch. Not many say no when the Old Trafford side come knocking.
