Ed Woodward identifies two internal candidates for Director of Football role

Manchester United’s new director of football could come from within the club, according to reports.

John Murtagh and Tony Whelan are the names being put forward in a report by the Daily Star as United look to reshape the model of the club.

The report claims United’s rumoured top target Paul Mitchell, who is currently working at RB Leipzig, is a ‘red herring’ and that Ed Woodward is keen to promote someone within the club instead.

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Murtagh, the head of youth development at United, and assistant academy director Whelan will be interviewed for the job in the coming weeks.

We don’t know much about the pair United had been linked with some of the biggest names in world football, including Monchi, Fabio Paratici and former goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.

Whoever gets the role must understand the path United want to take for the future. He must also be in the job when the new manager is appointed and by be involved in that decision too.

The director of football will be expected to work closer with the manager than anyone when it comes to watching players and signing fresh talent, so it’s important they are on the same page at all times.

Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in contention for the manager’s job after an unbeaten start as in the current role. If he can continue that level of form between now and the end of the season, along with a good run in either Champions League or FA Cup, the Norwegian will stand a very good chance.

More Stories Ed Woodward John Murtagh Paul Mitchell Tony Whelan