Jim Ratcliffe set to ‘purge’ Man Utd recruitment department with major overhaul

EXPRESS

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to take action on his promise of “ruthless” change at Manchester United by reaping the club’s recruitment department in the coming months, according to reports. The INEOS era will officially get underway once the Premier League ratifies Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion investment as early as the first week of February.

The 71-year-old will inherit a 29 per cent stake in United and total control of football operations, with the Glazers handing him the keys to Old Trafford.

INEOS have already made a strong statement of their intent by appointing Omar Berrada as the club’s new chief executive, luring him from rivals Manchester United in a move that surprised the industry.

According to the Telegraph, the appointment of a new director of football won’t be too far behind, with plans currently in place to fill the position in the next few weeks.

A purge of United’s recruitment team is said to be expected, and INEOS wanted Berrada in place so he could contribute to the director of football hire as part of a coherent system.

One source told the Telegraph that there are “no sacred cows” at United, indicating how ruthless Ratcliffe and his confidants are ready to get to steer the club in the right direction.

Omar Berrada and United’s new director of football will ultimately decide on Erik ten Hag’s future and whether the club need to appoint another senior figure in a potentially gutted and redrawn recruitment team.

INEOS have reportedly quickly recognised that United’s recruitment operation needs a shake-up after a decade of transfer failures and unresponsible use of funds.