Manchester United planning to replace John Murtough as football director
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment expected to be ratified soon, key personnel changes are already planned at Man United.
Manchester United are planning to replace John Murtough as football director as part of sweeping changes amid impending investment from the Ineos Group.
A well-placed source says that Murtough is "definitely going" amid a preference for a new figurehead for the football department.
The Manchester Evening News reported earlier this month Murtough and chief executive Richard Arnold's roles were both in jeopardy. United confirmed last week that Arnold would step down after 16 years with the club and he is expected to be replaced by Jean Claude-Blanc, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain.
READ MORE: Brailsford making visits to Carrington
READ MORE: Ratcliffe holding virtual meetings with Glazer
The MEN reported last week Sir Dave Brailsford, the Ineos sporting director, has made additional visits to United's Carrington training complex ahead of an expected announcement on the group's 25 per cent stake in the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos founder, has held virtual meetings with United co-chairman Joel Glazer about probable personnel changes.
It is understood more changes are planned behind the scenes at United, with the Ineos delegation unimpressed by other departmental strategies.
Murtough joined United from the Premier League 10 years ago and he was named as the club's inaugural football director in March 2021.
Although Murtough oversaw the appointment of Erik ten Hag and United enjoyed a successful 2022-23 campaign, they have regressed this term and the club's recruitment hit rate remains dismal.
Former United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward settled on Murtough over external options such as Ralf Rangnick and Paul Mitchell, as he had experience of running the club's academy and United did not want someone who specialised in recruitment.
Yet United have won only four trophies in the past decade and there have been a handful of successful signings, despite the club investing more than £1.5billion in transfer fees.