"As close to Txiki as I have ever seen" - Why Paul Mitchell is 'perfect' fit for Manchester United told by someone who knows them both

Paul Mitchell has long been labelled 'The Man who could save Manchester United'.

His is a name that often pops up whenever there is talk of a structural overhaul or on the frequent occasions that United's lack of a long-term plan is made all too apparent.

Right now, he could be closer than ever to an Old Trafford move. A proud Mancunian, he is living back in the North West after nearly three years in Monaco and could be the perfect candidate to help implement Sir Jim Ratcliffe's vision for the club.

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It wouldn't surprise those who know him so well.

"He’s a no-nonsense grafter," former teammate Neil Roberts tells the Manchester Evening News. The pair played together at Wigan at the start of their careers and they have been close ever since. Roberts is one of the few inside his 'tight knit circle' and would even classify 'Mitch' one of his closest friends from his own 15-year professional career.

"First and foremost, you've got to be hardworking; he doesn't suffer fools. I'll be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if he'd been planning this sort of trajectory; even his goal-setting would have been on it. I think for him to potentially get this opportunity at one of the biggest clubs in the world, it is a testament to his sheer determination and his class."

It was those days together at Wigan that helped shape Mitchell into the man he is today. He was a YTS (Youth Team Scholar) when Roberts signed for the club, but he got first-team exposure thanks to his maturity and workrate, even at such a young age.

The duo would both form an important part of the Wigan side that won the Division Two championship