Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly seek advice from legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as he prepares to take control of football operations at Old Trafford.
The INEOS billionaire is closing in on a £1.3billion deal to take a 25 per cent stake in United from the Glazer family.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Ratcliffe will ask Ferguson, 81, for advice and guidance as he plots an extensive overhaul of the football side.
This could boost Dougie Freedman’s chances becoming United’s new sporting director amid stiff competition.
The Scot, who currently fulfils a similar role at Crystal Palace, is a long-standing friend and ally of compatriot Ferguson. Freedman was formerly a neighbour of Ferguson in Cheshire before he took up his post at Palace in 2017.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) will reportedly seek advice from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right) over who should be Manchester United’s new sporting director
It could mean good news for Dougie Freedman, a friend and former neighbour of Ferguson’s
Ratcliffe has his work cut out in his attempts to transform the fortunes of the Red Devils
Glazer family remain in control of the club despite initially looking to sell their majority stake
Freedman spent time with Ferguson in his office at Old Trafford in 2011 when he was Palace manager.
The 49-year-old’s eye for a promising talent and diligent scouting could prove attractive to United with Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise among successful Selhurst Park arrivals in recent years.
The Telegraph report that other sporting director candidates include Atalanta’s Lee Congerton, Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Barta and AC Milan duo Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara.
A Ratcliffe appointment in this department would make the job of existing director of football John Murtough vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Blanc, a leading figure at Ratcliffe’s INEOS Sport, is a top contender to replace Richard Arnold as chief executive.