Manchester United will have to avoid Chelsea mistakes with Paul Mitchell or Dougie Freedman approach

Whatever happens when Sir Jim Ratcliffe completes his 25% investment into Manchester United, he is unlikely to appoint himself as sporting director, as Todd Boehly did in the summer of 2022 after he had bought Chelsea.

Copying anything Chelsea do when it comes to recruitment isn't something on the agenda of any major club at the moment, but even now Boehly has stepped aside at Stamford Bridge, the club's structure remains unclear. In February, they confirmed Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley as co-sporting directors, with Christopher Vivell as technical director and Joe Shields, Kyle Macaulay and Jim Fraser leading on recruitment.

Seven months after hiring Vivell from RB Leipzig, the German was placed on gardening leave. He had been one of the first appointments under the Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime, but when Stewart, Winstanley, Shields and Macaulaybfollowed, his role became less clear.

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Maybe inside Stamford Bridge this approach is working, but to outsiders, it's not clear who is in charge of what and that must be having at least some effect on recruitment. As Ratcliffe's INEOS group consider an overhaul of the sporting department at United once their minority stake is confirmed, it is something to consider.

It was in March 2021 that John Murtough was appointed as football director and Darren Fletcher as technical director, but changes are on the way. Richard Arnold's departure as chief executive could lead to someone with more football experience, such as Jean-Claude Blanc, coming in.

Murtough's role is also under scrutiny with Ratcliffe and his INEOS sporting