Rio Ferdinand has held lengthy talks with Manchester United about their restructuring and has impressed Ed Woodward as he mulls over contenders for the technical director role.
The MEN understands Ferdinand has spoken with various figures at United in recent weeks as executive vice-chairman Woodward continues the protracted process of identifying an inaugural technical director. Ferdinand visited United's Carrington training complex in March and Woodward is believed to have likened Ferdinand's United rhetoric to Sir Alex Ferguson's and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's.
Woodward has been struck by Ferdinand's clarification as to how United should go about what insiders have described as a 'cultural reset'. The feeling at the club is Ferdinand's outlook on potential transfer targets and desire to factor the academy into recruitment chimes with United's. Although Ferdinand is steeped in the ethos of the club, his camp insist 'nothing has changed' following discussions with United.
A source close to Ferdinand said: "Rio speaks to everyone at club regularly and has done since he left, which is only natural after playing there for 12 years."
Ferdinand appeared as a pundit on BT Sport during their Champions League coverage of Tottenham's semi-final first leg defeat to Ajax on Tuesday but was coy when pressed by presenter Gary Lineker about the technical director role. When asked about Ajax's outstanding captain Matthijs de Ligt, Ferdinand coyly claimed: "He'd be on the list of every top team out there. But I see where you're going there, Gary."
United great Edwin van der Sar - now the Ajax chief executive - spoke with former teammate Ferdinand prior to kick-off. "I think the game is more important," Ferdinand replied when asked about his chat with Van der Sar by Lineker. "Edwin's a lovely fella, he was telling me the ins and outs of what he does - very demanding but very rewarding."
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United assistant manager Mike Phelan has effectively doubled as a technical director by assisting Solskjaer in the club's recruitment reboot and the pair held another meeting with Woodward about proposed signings last week. United head of development John Murtough is thought to to be a candidate but former Southampton and Tottenham talent scout Paul Mitchell, now at Red Bull Leipzig, was discounted as a contender by senior United sources.
Solskjaer and Phelan have spoken about recruiting players who embody the 'United way' of playing following a transfer strategy change now focused on younger targets. United have settled on a preference for youthful British talent after the split transfer strategy that developed under former manager Jose Mourinho.
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Phelan's preference is to reboot the recruitment policy and eschew the superstar strategy United have relied on for much of Woodward's six-year tenure overseeing transfers. Solskjaer is in agreement with Phelan's outlook and there is a determination to recruit without blocking academy talents' pathway to the first-team.
United indicated in late March they were hopeful of appointing a technical director before the start of next season. United specifically want a cultural fit whom 'shares their holistic view'. The inference is it has been easier to rule out options.
