Manchester United are confident of executing a successful transfer window despite the lack of clarity regarding Erik ten Hag’s future.
The season review led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe that will settle Ten Hag’s employment has entered a third week but the structure put in place by the minority owner means the club are relaxed about the window, which opens on Friday.
Jason Wilcox was appointed in April by Ratcliffe as the technical director and is leading recruitment in the absence of Dan Ashworth, the prospective sporting director who remains on gardening leave after departing Newcastle.
During Wilcox’s season as Southampton’s director of football, those signed permanently or on loan included David Brooks, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes, Ryan Fraser and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who all featured in the 1-0 Championship playoff final win against Leeds.
United believe that with Omar Berrada, the incoming chief executive formerly with Manchester City, expected to end his gardening leave and start work soon, this will further bolster their ability to operate in the window. There is, though, a recognition that because Ratcliffe officially became the new 27.7% minority owner only in February and began driving football policy then, this was not ideal timing regarding the summer window.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is among the players being monitored by United, with the Merseyside club valuing the defender at a minimum £60m.
