Manchester United make key call on transfer guru following £200m window

Christopher Vivell will stay on as Manchester United's interim director of recruitment for the January transfer window after playing a key role in a successful summer window for the club.

Vivell has signed a contract until February and will remain in his role until then, with a possibility he then takes up the position on a permanent basis, with the club and the 37-year-old German both happy with how the relationship has worked so far.

A final review into his post will take place at the end of the January window, with sporting director Dan Ashworth still finalising how he wants the football department to operate, while Vivell will also decide if the role is suitable and whether he wants to stay in Manchester long-term.

The former Chelsea technical director was appointed to a role at United in July, working as part of the new football structure put in place by Ineos. He has formed a key part of what club sources describe as a "strengthened" recruitment team, alongside director of scouting Steve Brown and director of negotiations Matt Hargreaves.

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That trio helped United oversee a successful summer transfer window, with five new players signing for an outlay of just over £200m, while eight players were sold for fees that could eventually bring in £100m. United said Vivell had made a "positive contribution" since arriving at the club.

United signed Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte this summer, with all three priority positions of central defence, midfield and centre forward strengthened