Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar is reportedly in line to return to Old Trafford, as the club look to appoint a new Director of Football.
According to a report by The Independent, Manchester United are stepping up their efforts to appoint a new Director of Football quickly. The Premier League heavyweights are considering a number of options, with club legend Edwin van der Sar also being eyed for a possible return to Old Trafford.
Manchester United have been rumoured to be in a frenzied search for a new Director of Football ever since the summer transfer window slammed shut in England last week. The club’s poor performance in the window has been slammed by fans, with manager Jose Mourinho also projecting his frustration over the same in recent weeks.
Manchester United failed to land several targets that Mourinho had asked for, with the manager and the club hierarchy reportedly having differing views over the profile of players to pursue.
Their inability to sign players quickly also saw Manchester United table late big-money bids on deadline day. Having managed to secure the services of just three players, there have been calls to restructure the club at board level, a direct result of which will see them appoint a Director of Football soon.
Mourinho, who has historically been against the idea of working under a Director of Football, also seems to have had a change of heart recently, after acknowledging that the role of a manager has changed drastically. And, Manchester United now want to push on with the appointment of such an individual, with several names being lined up.
Among these high profile candidates is Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar. The Dutchman has moved to a backroom role since hanging up his boots, and is currently the CEO of Ajax. His work with the Dutch club has hugely impressed those at Old Trafford, and a popular move could be on the cards.
Van der Sar is a popular figure at Old Trafford after a stellar six-year stint at Manchester United, when he had laid his hands on every major honour in club football. His return to the club could be a step in the right direction, as he is well versed with the traditions and values and Old Trafford, something he could imbibe, if appointed as the Director of Football.
But, van der Sar faces a long road in order to complete his return to Old Trafford, with stalwarts such as Monchi, Fabio Paratici and Domenico Teti among those being considered. The report suggests that the Red Devils are set to conduct an extensive amount of interviews before they finally zero in on the ideal candidate.
Whoever is appointed in the end, Manchester United fans will hope that it ushers in a new philosophy of a long-term plan behind a signing instead of blindly acquiring the players. Either way, some big changes are set to be made at Old Trafford, and it remains to be seen if van der Sar is part of it in the near future.
