{"id":297173,"date":"2023-11-22T19:54:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T19:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=297173"},"modified":"2023-11-22T19:54:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T19:54:28","slug":"man-utd-to-follow-chelsea-model-as-jim-ratcliffe-works-on-first-appointments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/man-utd-to-follow-chelsea-model-as-jim-ratcliffe-works-on-first-appointments\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd to ‘follow Chelsea model’ as Jim Ratcliffe works on first appointments"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly follow Chelsea’s model at Manchester United by hiring more than one sporting director. Paul Mitchell is in line for a job at Old Trafford but he may not be the only candidate brought in.<\/p>\n

United are yet to officially announce Ratcliffe’s investment into the club. The British billionaire is set to buy a 25 per cent stake into the Red Devils worth around \u00a31.3billion.<\/p>\n

It will bring to an end a year-long saga since the Glazers first signalled they would be open to selling all or part of their shares. He has beaten off competition from Sheikh Jassim and is set to be announced imminently.<\/p>\n

Ratcliffe will be given responsibility for the football department at United and will make a series of appointments. Former British Cycling chief Sir Dave Brailsford is the director of sport at Ratcliffe’s company INEOS and will follow him to United in some capacity.<\/p>\n

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A sporting director will be a key addition to the hierarchy to spearhead United’s transfer business, which has taken strong criticism in recent years. But talkSPORT claims that responsibility won’t be solely down to one person.<\/p>\n

The report says there is a ‘strong possibility’ that former Southampton and Tottenham chief Mitchell will land one role as sporting director. However, Ratcliffe will also look to hire another candidate in a similar position.<\/p>\n

Dougie Freedman currently holds that role at Crystal Palace and has attracted interest from United. It is also claimed that AC Milan and Italy legend Paulo Maldini is another name under discussion.<\/p>\n

If Ratcliffe goes down the route of having multiple sporting directors, it will be a similar setup to that of Chelsea. Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart currently occupy the roles of co-sporting directors at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n