August 9 – Manchester United have resumed their search for a technical director after the summer transfer window closed yesterday in England.
In August 2018 Manchester United decided that the club was in need of a director of football, but progress in identifying a candidate was slow as the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward kept faith in coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his assistant Mike Phelan who have worked alongside the recruitment department and the board regarding transfers.
This summer the club spent £140 million on the signings of defenders Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and winger Daniel James, selling Romelu Lukaku for £74 million on deadline. Cricitism of the acquisitions has been that they are considered too few and too limited for United to mount a credible return to being premier League title contenders. Since Woodward replaced former chief executive David Gill six seasons ago, Manchester United have failed to compete meaningfully for the title.
In March Solskjaer was handed the Manchester United role on a permanent basis after the club parted ways with Jose Mourinho and a flurry of positive results landed the Norwegian the job. Former players Darren Fletcher and Rio Ferdinand have reportedly spoken to Woodward, but United didn’t formally offer them the role.
On Friday Solskjaer dismissed the idea that United did bad business in the transfer market. “That’s not the feeling inside the club and the feeling with the fans I’ve met are excited with the ones we’ve had,” said the Manchester United coach. “There are always going to be fans out there wanting to sign players – that’s part and parcel of being here. The players are here now and have been shown the trust, and we believe in them.”
This weekend United kick off their 2019/20 Premier League campaign against Chelsea. Last season United finished sixth in the table on 68 points, 30 points behind league champions and cross-town rivals Manchester City.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714015984labto1714015984ofdlr1714015984owedi1714015984sni@t1714015984catno1714015984c1714015984