Nearly a year since Jose Mourinho was sacked, Manchester United are no closer to making the necessary improvements to their transfer personnel behind the scenes.
Last month, former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was linked with a return to the club and the Daily Mail quoted the Dutchman as saying he would be interested in coming back to Old Trafford.
But recent developments may have put United off the trail of the Dutchman as they scramble for the correct balance on the recruitment side.
Van der Sar underlines Ajax commitment
Van der Sar has extended his contract as CEO of his first club Ajax until 2023, as reported by the Evening Standard.
That’s a new four-year deal to ward off interest from elsewhere, and Van der Sar made it clear on Twitter how much he loves the club.
A big miss for United
It’s important to note that Van der Sar’s role as CEO is different from the technical director or director of football role United currently need to fill.
He even told the Daily Mail he wouldn’t want to be a director of football if he did move to Old Trafford.
His role is more about overseeing the culture of the club; its youth development, style of play and general image.
That’s more than just a transfer fixer and it’s an Ajax-style model which runs through the club from top to bottom that United could really do with.
If Woodward was prepared to step aside however, and focus on commercial aspects, Van der Sar would have been the perfect replacement.
As it is, we seem to be stuck with Woodward for now, and his never ending search for a technical director.
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