The men charged with spearheading United’s biggest summer window in history – The Athletic

Manchester United technical director Jason Wilcox will once again play a key role in the club’s massive summer of recruitment.

The Red Devils have made it a priority this upcoming window to revitalise their playing squad after an embarrassing 15th place finish in the Premier League.

The Athletic report that Wilcox has been “watching Amorim’s training sessions and offering a tactical bridge between the coaches and the board.”

The former Manchester City man is said to have a “strong” relationship with Amorim and the pair are in daily discussions to align the “sporting decisions and recruitment strategy.”

Despite this being his first role at Premier League level, his attention to detail is seen as a “major strength”.

He is also judged to have “expertise” at youth level, which “maps onto United’s approach to take chances on signing emerging talents, given the financial picture at the club.”

United’s director of negotiations, Matt Hargreaves, will handle transfer and contract negotiations.

Christopher Vivell is another big player in United’s ambitious summer plans. He originally joined the club on a temporary basis last year.

Nonetheless, he has impressed those at the top sufficiently to secure a permanent gig at the club.

The Athletic report that he “is playing a key role in shaping United’s strategy.” His main job is to find players who fit Amorim’s requirements but crucially, also players that can fit a number of different systems, not just a 3-4-2-1.

The biggest issue the recruitment team want to address this summer is the United squad’s “lack of necessary athleticism.”

It is believed this is one of the most important reasons they have struggled so badly in the league. It is also said to be one of the main driving forces behind the signing of Patrick Dorgu in January.

United’s top brass are reported to back Amorim completely with chief executive officer, Omar Berrada’s “reputation especially aligned” to the Portuguese coach’s success.

What’s more, “they are aware of the need to back him in a meaningful way to give his approach a chance of succeeding” ahead of arguably the most important summer in the club’s history.

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