Man Utd or Tottenham to punish Liverpool hesitation with transformative arrival wanted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Despite lodging an approach, Liverpool will not move for a proven Englishman who’s on the move this summer, with the door now open for Man Utd or Tottenham to strike, per reports.

Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed Liverpool had lodged an approach for departing Monaco sporting director, Paul Mitchell.

The 41-year-old recently confirmed he’ll leave Monaco when a worthy successor has been put in place and a return to England is on the cards.

Mitchell previously held sporting director roles at Southampton, Tottenham and RB Leipzig before moving to Monaco.

He enjoyed notable success with Spurs, with the likes of Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min signed on his watch.

Julian Ward currently holds the sporting director role at Anfield, though will depart at season’s end ahead of reportedly joining Ajax.

Speculation the Reds were in talks with Mitchell did the rounds, with Romano subsequently confirming an approach had indeed been made.

However, according to Football Insider, Mitchell will not be moving to Liverpool.

Door swings open for Man Utd and ‘keen’ Tottenham

Their Merseyside correspondent, David Lynch, reported Mitchell ‘is not in the running’ for the soon-to-be vacant role at Anfield.

On the subject of where Mitchell may wind up, Lynch added Spurs are ‘keen’ to bring the Englishman back to north London.

Fabio Paratici is Tottenham’s current sporting director, though his future may be tied to that of Antonio Conte. If one Italian goes, so too may the other.

Elsewhere, the Manchester Evening News are quick to point out Mitchell was heavily linked with joining Man Utd back when Ralf Rangnick took interim charge.

Caught Offside piggyback on that report, adding any new United owners could ‘pounce on the availability’ of Mitchell and bring him on board to kickstart the new era.

Adding fuel to that fire, the Independent claimed if it’s Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS that buy out the Glazers, Mitchell has been earmarked for an important role at Old Trafford.

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