Tuesday 14 May 2019 06:08, UK
Darren Fletcher is a leading candidate to become the new technical director at Manchester United, Sky Sports News understands.
The club's ex-midfielder, 35, has held negotiations with the United hierarchy over the role, which the club has been looking to create for some time.
United, who finished sixth after a disappointing end to a difficult season, want to bring in someone who can act as the glue between the board and the manager, and will work closely with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The new technical director is therefore not expected to be a 'transfer guru' who will lead the club's player recruitment.
United have also been interested in RB Leipzig's head of recruitment Paul Mitchell, Sky Sports News understands.
But another ex-player in Rio Ferdinand has also been among the candidates as the club search for someone who already knows the inner workings of the club.
And Mitchell has a lucrative offer to remain at Leipzig on the table, becoming their new 'head of global football', while he has also been a target for similar positions at Chelsea and Arsenal.
Dan Ashworth, previously at the FA and credited with a significant hand in the resurgence of the England team, now technical director at Brighton, had also been a name discussed at Old Trafford when United first began searching for candidates last August.
But Fletcher, who has been playing for Stoke City this season but is out of contract, looks likely to take the job. He came through United's academy and made more than 300 senior appearances for them under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes. before switching to West Brom in the summer that Louis van Gaal arrived.
Fletcher also has 80 caps and five goals for Scotland, and has not yet announced any intention to retire playing for either club or country.
