Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn’t waiting around (Credits: REUTERS)

Manchester United expect to appoint the club’s first ever Sporting Director within weeks after INEOS whittled down their shortlist to two names.

Omar Berrada has already joined from Manchester City as the club’s new CEO, representing the first major appointment by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Though Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn investment in the club is yet to be ratified by the Premier League, he is not waiting around to make further changes.

United have squandered around £450m under Erik ten Hag, and the £1.3bn they’ve spent since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has failed to produce a league title.

Profit and Sustainability Rules, as well as United’s debt, means the club can no longer afford to be reckless in the transfer market.
Ratcliffe wanted Berrada in place before a Sporting Director is appointed, so that the Spaniard can give his input on the appointment.

Berrada has joined as CEO (Picture: Getty)

And the Telegraph say INEOS are now down to the final two, with an appointment expected in the next few weeks.

Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth and Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman are two leading candidates.

Paul Mitchell, who used to head up Spurs’ recruitment, has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Julian Ward, who transformed Liverpool’s transfer operations, is another candidate.

United are open to appointing a head of recruitment alongside a sp...