Manchester United want Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman as their new head of recruitment, and the Eagles are braced for an approach this week, according to the Independent.
The Red Devils want to make a swift appointment and are hoping Freedman will be ready to start work immediately as would-be technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada are currently on gardening leave.
The Palace chief is a long-term ally of Sir Alex Ferguson, and the former Man United manager appears to have played a huge role in the decision as Sir Jim Ratcliffe took guidance from him as he prepares to make major changes at the Old Trafford club.
The Eagles have recruited Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise, as well as arranging the loan deal for Conor Gallagher under Freedman, which has left the new co-owner impressed.
INEOS believe he is an ideal candidate for the structure they are building at Man United, and while there are other candidates for the role, he has stood out for meeting several requirements.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, Palace do not stand in the way of their employees if they want to further their careers but will offer them new deals and allow them to make up their own minds.
The chance to join Man United could be too tempting for Freedman to turn down even though he would be working under Berrada and Ashworth.
The Red Devils are eyeing a squad overhaul and will need the services of an experienced recruitment expert to get the job done after years of poor decisions.
They have largely failed to get it right in the transfer market since Ferguson left in 2013, and the prospective arrivals of Freedman, Berrada and Ashworth should help them turn their fortunes around.
