Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Former Liverpool man and Pochettino aide on Man Utd radar for game-changing signing

Paul Mitchell, Monaco sporting director, December 2021

Manchester United are considering former Liverpool coach Andy O’Boyle for the vacant deputy director of football position at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have gone through a major restructuring at all levels in recent seasons. The manager’s position is again up for grabs, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking in November.

While Ralf Rangnick is in interim charge, Man Utd have yet to find a coach to bring long-term stability within the dressing room.

Upstairs, meanwhile, Ed Woodward recently stepped aside as the man leading the operation. Richard Arnold is the new chief executive, with Darren Fletcher now the Old Trafford technical director.

As for transfer negotiations, football director John Murtough and head of corporate development Matt Judge are influential. According to the Daily Mail, though, United are now looking to appoint an assistant to Murtough.

And ex-Liverpool coach O’Boyle is on their radar. The Northern Irishman spent almost seven years with the Reds while also working with England’s Under-21s.

He is currently the head of elite performance at the Premier League. And despite his background in sports science, he has emerged as a target for United’s recruitment department due to his ‘general and varied experience’.

Man Utd officials believe Murtough needs someone alongside him to steer the ship at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are facing a pivotal few months, with top-four ambitions still in the balance and a new manager coming in ahead of the summer transfer window.

Man Utd eyeing new backroom addition

Richard Arnold, Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer of Man Utd, May 2016

As well as O’Boyle, though, the Daily Mail has also claimed that Paul Mitchell is also on United’s radar.

The 40-year-old stopped playing at 27 due to injury. After getting into coaching and football recruitment, he he blossomed in a head of recruitment role at MK Dons.

As a result, Southampton snapped him up and he worked with Mauricio Pochettino on the south coast. Pochettino joined Tottenham in May 2014 and Mitchell followed him to north London in November, the pair spending another stint together.

Manchester United looking at Darwin Nunez from Benfica

Manchester United looking at Darwin Nunez from Benfica

Darwin Nunez from Benfica a top target for Manchester United and other Premier League clubs

Mitchell subsequently moved to RB Leipzig in 2017, at which time Rangnick was at the German club. And the pair were spotted again at a Man Utd FA Youth Cup tie earlier this month.

Mitchell is currently at Monaco, but the Daily Mail adds that he is likely to get the sack as their sporting director. He could yet therefore reunite with Pochettino at Old Trafford.

Andy O’Boyle, Paul Mitchell would face massive Man Utd task

Man Utd have performed a major restructuring behind the scenes, but the next few months will prove pivotal.

The identity of the new manager is arguably the biggest decision United must get right.

Solskjaer had his impressive moments while in charge. Ultimately, though, the Norwegian and Rangnick have been unable to inspire a significant turnaround in fortunes at Old Trafford.

Pochettino would come with Premier League experience of Southampton and Tottenham. However, he is facing criticism for his current handling of the Paris Saint-Germain job.

Meanwhile, Ajax’s Erik ten Hag and Spain coach Luis Enrique are among the other contenders to take over.

As for recruitment and transfers, Murtough is new to his job and he will also have to get the big decisions right to steer United in the right direction.