Manchester United are reportedly eyeing former Liverpool transfer chiefs Michael Edwards and Julian Ward when Sir Jim Ratcliffe completes his deal to buy 25 per cent of the Red Devils. Ratcliffe has been in discussions with the 13-time Premier League champions for months over an investment in the club, and the process appears to be drawing to a conclusion.
Recent reports have suggested that Ratcliffe’s deal will go through within the next fortnight. And the INEOS owner is set to take over the responsibility of running the club’s football operations.
According to the Daily Star, the 71-year-old is promising an end to the chaotic transfer policy at Old Trafford, with current technical director John Murtough and football director Darren Fletcher likely to pay the price for mistakes by losing their jobs.
Former Tottenham transfer chief Paul Mitchell is an early favourite to be given a role in the north west. But Edwards and Ward are also possibilities.
Edwards spent 11 years at Anfield and oversaw the club’s transfers as sporting director between 2016 and 2022. During his tenure, the Merseyside giants signed the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk and went on to win the Champions League and Premier League. But he quit the club to start his own consultancy business and was replaced by his prodigy Ward. However, Ward only lasted a year before heading for the Anfield exit.
Ratcliffe will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes in the transfer market if he can lure Edwards and Ward to Manchester. The pair could be given the remit of rebuilding the team, with many current players coming under fire this season following United’s dismal form.
Meanwhile, current INEOS director of sport Sir David Brailsford has been tipped to join Ratcliffe in the United set-up. And Brailsford is pushing to bring in Crystal Palace transfer chief Dougie Freedman, who has been working at Selhurst Park since 2017.
Freedman has caught the eye after identifying the talents of Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in recent years and is being lined up to be part of Ratcliffe’s £1.4billion revolution at Old Trafford. Palace paid Chelsea £18million in exchange for Guehi two years ago after handing Queens Park Rangers £17m for Eze 12 months earlier. The players have both become full England internationals since joining the Eagles. Freedman also oversaw the arrival of France under-21s star Olise in 2021 after Palace paid Reading £8.5m to acquire his services.
