Manchester United are preparing for a restructure this summer to support manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with a technical director set to be appointed.
The Old Trafford club are keen to assist Solskjaer in the transfer market and the addition will help the club evolve into the modern football structure, with it already widely used across the continent.
They are not the only Premier League side venturing down this route this summer, with Arsenal keen to do the same to transition in the post-Arsene Wenger era, but the two clubs seem to have different targets in mind.
With time running out until the end of the season, and the transfer window just months away from opening once again, the attention on United’s plans is increasing - and PaddyPower have revealed the latest odds on who could be arriving at Old Trafford.
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The favourite to take the reigns is Dutch coach Marcel Bout, who already holds a senior role at the as Head of Global Scouting, and he is tipped at 13/8 to take the position ahead of John Murtagh, also already at the club, at 5/2.
Mike Phelan, long-term assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson and now working alongside Solskjaer, is 7/2, while Solskjaer himself is 12/1 - behind former goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and former Tottenham Hotspur Head of Recruitment Paul Mitchell.
Other recognisable names from a United perspective include Eric Cantona, Jordi Cruyff, Gary Neville, Peter Schmeichel and Paul Scholes, while contenders from across Europe include Lille’s Luis Campos, Juventus’ Fabio Paratici, RB Leipzig manager Ralf Ragnick.
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You can see a full list of the odds offered below.
Next Manchester United Director of Football
Marcel Bout - 13/8
John Murtagh - 5/2
Mike Phelan - 7/2
Edwin Van der Sar - 6/1
Paul Mitchell - 10/1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 12/1
Eric Cantona - 14/1
Jordi Cruyff - 16/1
Fabio Paratici - 18/1
Andrea Berta - 20/1
Luis Campos - 20/1
Michael Zorc - 25/1
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Gary Neville - 33/1
Giuseppe Marotta - 33/1
Marcel Brands - 40/1
Ralf Ragnick - 50/1
Les Reed - 66/1
Peter Schmeichel - 66/1
Nicola Cortese - 66/1
Paul Scholes - 100/1
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