Manchester United’s football director John Murtough has outlined the “overhaul” of the club’s transfer strategy ahead of the January window.
The Red Devils appointed Murtough as the club’s first de-facto Director of Football back in March, joining a transfer committee which also includes Technical Director Darren Fletcher and chief negotiator Matt Judge.
The change came in light of intense criticism of outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s high-profile misses in the transfer market.
Woodward took on a prominent role in shaping the club’s direction in terms of incomings and outgoings, following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
JOIN THE DEBATE! How many players do Man Utd need to sign in January? Let us know in the comments
But that structure has borne only disappointment, with no league titles in eight years and United in the midst of a five-year trophy drought.
The much maligned Woodward is set to leave his post at the end of the year, with Murtough set for increased responsibility in the new setup.
The 48-year-old also played a central role in the recruitment of Ralf Rangnick, who replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim boss at the end of November.
Murtough revealed that the German tactician was United’s top target with plans already in place for him to take a two-year consultancy role beginning next summer.
Rangnick, who has built years of experience as a sporting director for the Red Bull group, will join Murtough and Co to help deliver the club’s long-term goals.
And heading into the first window with Rangnick at the helm, Murtough has opened up on the new direction at the Premier League giants.
“By bringing in Ralf, we can now take time to run a thorough process for our next permanent manager,” Murtough told a fans’ forum earlier this month.
“Recruiting a manager is one of the most important decisions a football club makes so we want to do it in a careful and considered fashion.
“We have an agreement with Ralf to stay on for a further two years in a consultancy role – allowing us to continue drawing on his expertise and advice to support our longer-term goals.
“As I referenced in September, strong foundations remain in place.”
He continued: “We have a football structure in place now, with my role and Darren’s as Technical Director, which provides stability through times of transition
“Our recruitment process has been overhauled and the Academy strengthened, and our investments in these areas are going to bring long-term benefits.
“Ole got us heading in the right direction and now we’re looking to take the next steps on the journey back to success.
“We believe the first team squad is the strongest it has been since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and we have some fantastic young talent coming through."
