Man Utd set to be stung by Saudi Arabia with Sir Jim Ratcliffe plan ‘in danger’
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Paul Mitchell is among the frontrunners to replace John Murtough as Manchester United’s sporting director once Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS complete their £1.4billion purchase of a 25 per cent stake. But United reportedly face competition from Saudi Arabia, keen to add high-profile executives to the Gulf state’s big-money revolution, as well as players.
While Sir Jim is set to buy a minority stake in United, INEOS are expected to inherit total sporting control from the Glazer family at Old Trafford.
It is likely to lead to a shake-up of the club’s football operation, leaving chief executive Richard Arnold and Murtough among those at risk.
The Telegraph report that Mitchell is the early favourite to finally enter a position with which he has long been linked.
However, claims elsewhere suggest United are at risk of missing out on the 42-year-old, who left AS Monaco and moved back to his home in the North West earlier this year.
According to The Sun, United aren’t alone in their interest in Mitchell. Saudi Pro League clubs are also in the frame as they accelerate their headline-stealing recruitment.
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Former Chelsea chief Michael Emelano has acted as the league’s director of football, helping several clubs complete big-money deals for football’s leading names, mostly superstars past their prime years.
But in the next stage of the Gulf state’s football revolution, individual clubs want to take internal control of long-term recruitment while competitiveness grows.
The report adds that while Saudi Pro League outfits will continue targeting marquee names, they are also keen to compete with Europe’s heavyweights by identifying and developing the world’s most exciting young talent.
Mitchell has earned a glowing reputation for his work at MK Dons, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and the Red Bull group before his latest exploits at Monaco.
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Dele Alli, Sadio Mane, Son Heung-Min, Ibrahima Konate and Christopher Nkunku are among the players with world-class potential who Mitchell has scouted throughout his career.
He was strongly linked with taking up a role at United during Ralf Rangnick’s interim spell as manager, which was initially planned to precede his appointment in a recruitment role.
But Rangnick left the Red Devils at the end of the 2021/22 season, having decided to accept the role of Austria manager.
He could finally land a senior job in M16 once Sir Jim and INEOS’ deal goes through, with next summer potentially his first transfer window.
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