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Sources: Sir Jim Ratcliffe backs Man United appointing Dougie Freedman in key twist
Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman is a leading candidate to be the new Man United director of football, sources have told Football Insider.
The current Palace sporting director, 49, is firmly in the frame for the role with incoming United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe believed to be an admirer.
Paul Mitchell, formerly of Southampton and Tottenham, has also been in the running – but has now believed to have slipped down the pecking order of potential candidates.
This news comes after Football Insider revealed on 24 November that Ratcliffe is planning to sack current football director John Murtough once the new investment is completed.
Mitchell, who last worked at Monaco, was expected to be among the top options for the INEOS Group once their takeover cleared – but Freedman has now emerged as an alternative, and has the backing of Ratcliffe in a key twist.
The British billionaire is planning a radical shake-up at Man United once he takes the reins at Old Trafford.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month (4 November) that he is keen to develop a multi-club model which can rival Man City’s illustrious set-up.
Freedman has experience in working within a similar structure as Crystal Palace are partnered with Lyon, Botafago and RWD Molenbeek through owner John Textor.
He started his post-playing career as a manager, taking charge of 246 matches in spells at Palace, Nottingham Forest and Bolton.
The 49-year-old was appointed as sporting director at Selhurst Park in August 2017.
Freedman has since brought the likes of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise to the club, all of whom have had massive success in a Palace shirt after joining for modest fees.
The south London outfit are now a mainstay in the Premier League after promotion back in 2013.
Meanwhile, Man United sit sixth in the top flight as Ratcliffe’s investment inches closer.
The Red Devils are six points from first-place Arsenal after 13 games.
In other news, Man United make defender their “number one January target”.