Manchester United will reportedly pass up Edwin van der Sar by pursuing Marcel Brands as their next Director of Football.
Brands is currently Director of Football at Everton and earned plaudits for his impressive transfer strategy last summer.
The Toffees offloaded out-of-favour first-team players such as Morgan Schneiderlin and brought in highly-rated stars including James Rodriguez from Real Madrid and Allan from Napoli.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti's ranks were also bolstered by the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ben Godfrey, signed from Championship sides Watford and Norwich respectively.
Everton's summer business means Brands is an in-demand executive and Roma are among the clubs believed to be interested in his services.
But The Sun claims Manchester United have joined the race for the Dutchman, whose deal at Goodison Park expires at the end of the season.
The Red Devils are keen to restructure their recruitment policy and the report adds Brands would struggle to turn down the offer.
Brands was a Director of Football in his native country for 20 years, spending seven seasons with RKC Waalwijk, five with AZ Alkmaar and eight with PSV Eindhoven.
Is Marcel Brands the ideal Director of Football target for Manchester United? Have your say here.
His tenure helped Alkmaar to the Eredivisie title in 2009, marking the second time the club had won the top flight in their history.
And Brands enjoyed a glittering spell with PSV during which the club won three Eredivisie titles and the Dutch Cup before his move to Merseyside.
The 58-year-old is renowned for his expert knowledge of his field and his by-the-book approach.
He was also as a central midfielder during a 17-year playing career in the Netherlands.
Brands' substantial links with the United Director of Football job will come as a blow to club legend Van der Sar, who is currently CEO of Ajax but has been linked with a return to Old Trafford in an executive capacity.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
.png?w=600)
