A terrifying report from The Telegraph says Ed Woodward is still in charge of Manchester United’s transfer business.
When Woodward’s departure was announced in late April amid the disastrous Super League fallout, the hope was that Ed would fade away into the background, ahead of his departure from his role on December 31.
Instead it seems Woodward is clinging to power while he can.
The Telegraph report: “Woodward will remain at the helm of United’s transfer plans for as long as he is in position as the club’s executive vice-chairman.”
This is despite the recent appointment of John Murtough to director of football.
Murtough simply fits into a structure underneath Woodward, who has the final say.
Terrifying prospect
Woodward has overseen several disastrous transfer window as Manchester United chief executive, since taking over from David Gill in 2013.
We looked at 10 moments which defined Woodward’s spell in charge at United, from paying a higher fee than Marouane Fellaini’s release clause, to the last transfer window when United finished second in 2018.
Jose Mourinho, United boss at the time, was rewarded with Diogo Dalot, Fred, and Lee Grant. Predictably the team went backwards fast.
Now, after clawing back to second place under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United need the haul of top players which was required three years ago.
If we are to look at last summer, we should not get our hopes up. Solskjaer did not get any of his top choice signings, and the most expensive addition, Donny van de Beek, did not even make it off the bench in Gdansk.
The latest report claims United are chasing several big names, from Jadon Sancho to Harry Kane, but we have been here before.
Just like chasing Cesc Fabregas and Gareth Bale in 2013, Ed Woodward’s transfer windows are often ambitious, and nearly always a huge letdown.
Despite the big name targets and United being poised for success, we should not get our hopes up.
There was a chance, with a new figure like Murtough driving a fresh approach, that this summer could be different. Perhaps it might be. But probability, based on the last seven summer windows under Woodward, says United fans are in store for more major disappointment.
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