MANCHESTER UNITED face competition from Saudi Pro League clubs for highly-rated sporting director Paul Mitchell.
The former Tottenham and Southampton chief has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as part of a management shake-up if Sir Jim Ratcliffe buys into the club and takes control of football operations.
ReutersSir Jim Ratcliffe could lose out on sporting director Paul Mitchell[/caption]
AFPPaul Mitchell enjoyed success at Tottenham and Southampton[/caption]
But Saudi clubs are also looking at MItchell as they plan the next phase of their recruitment drive.
The former Manchester City youth player, 42, left Monaco earlier this year and recently moved back to his native North West, fuelling talk that United would be his next port of call.
Mitchell’s record of identifying players with world-class potential like Son Heung-Min, Sadio Mane and Dele Alli, is also attracting attention in Saudi Arabia.
So far, the SPL recruitment has been run centrally, with former Chelsea chief Michael Emenalo acting as director of football for the whole league while its clubs spent millions bringing in players who were mostly ageing superstars.
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But as the game develops in the Gulf nation, clubs are keen to take more control of their long-term recruitment.
They will still seek to make big-name signings like Liverpool’s Mo Salah. But they also want to compete with European club to scout, buy and develop emerging talent from around the world.
Back in April, Mitchell was linked with a move to Chelsea.
His friendship with Blues boss Maurcio Pochettino was seen as a potential draw for Todd Boehly.
SunSport revealed that Mitchell was seen as a potential candidate to clear the dead wood in Chelsea’s squad.
And before that, in December 2021, it was claimed Mitchell had “offered himself” to Newcastle.
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