Matt Hargreaves has started work as Manchester United's director of football negotiations a few days before the summer transfer window opens.
United identified former Adidas executive Hargreaves as the man to lead their football negotiations back in March and he has now started in the role after serving a notice period with the sportswear brand.
Hargreaves replaces Matt Judge, who resigned from the position 14 months ago. Judge wasn't involved in last summer's transfer window, when United appointed Tom Keane, brother of former academy defender and now Everton player Michael, into a temporary role to oversee negotiations.
Keane worked on the club's summer transfer business but has since returned to his former role with law firm Brandsmiths.
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Hargreaves also has a law background and he is a United fan. He finished his 14-year employment with Adidas last week, having begun as a legal counsel with the firm before spending the last six years as sports marketing director for North Europe.
Hargreaves has taken up his post at Old Trafford this week, but he has worked at the club previously, having briefly been seconded into the legal department in 2008. Before that, he spent five years working for law firms James Chapman & Co and Brabners.
His start date is timely given the transfer window opens tomorrow (Wednesday). Erik ten Hag wants United to sign a striker as a top priority this summer, while the Dutchman also has eyes on a central midfielder, with Mason Mount the top target.
A goalkeeper could also arrive as uncertainty over David de Gea's future drags on, while a defender and a younger forward are also wanted. But funding all of those moves will require cash to be raised by player sales.
Hargreaves' arrival continues the restructuring of the football department at the club under football director John Murtough, He appointed Andy O'Boyle as his deputy, with David Harrison head of football operations and Dominic Jordan director of data science.
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