Rio Ferdinand baffled by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first Man Utd recruitment plans as he questions ‘left field’ move
RIO FERDINAND has raised concerns over Sir Jim Ratcliffe's transfer plans ahead of his 25 per cent takeover.
The British billionaire is finalising a move to buy a quarter of Manchester United from the Glazers this week.
Ratcliffe wants to be in charge of football operations and is set to launch an investigation into poor signings that have cost the club over £1billion in recent years.
It could spell the end for chiefs like Richard Arnold, John Murtough and Darren Fletcher with the INEOS owner already lining up their replacements.
Highly-rated director Paul Mitchell, who has worked with Southampton, Tottenham, RB Leipzig and Monaco has been linked with a move to Man Utd.
But shock reports emerged that Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman is also on Ratcliffe's radar.
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He has been sporting director at Selhurst Park since 2017.
But it's a move that Ferdinand is unsure about, explaining to the show: "His name has come out of left field. No disrespect, but I don't remember anyone saying 'wow, look at what Palace are doing.'
"Paul Mitchell, I get it, he has a history of doing good things and the same with Michael Edwards, Julian Ward at Liverpool.
"They have a body of successful work that is recognised, so has Dan Ashworth with England and then Brighton and now at Newcastle.
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"You can understand that but nobody says that about Palace.
"Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi are three players you look at that have been good signings but for everyone one of those, there are others that haven't worked.
"They don't have a reputation that makes you understand why United would go for him.
"Dan Ashworth has been in these roles before but John Murtough has worked in positions that aren't based around football.
"He was helping out behind-the-scenes but not in football things."
Ratcliffe is keen to get to work as soon as possible and SunSport exclusively revealed that he could hand Erik ten Hag a January transfer war chest to fix a slow start to the season.
But Ferdinand is wary that it might not solve United's woes in the market.
He said: "Ratcliffe is paying 25 percent and he is getting full reins of the football side.
"He is controlling the ins and outs and all recruitment.
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"It is a big risk. You can't say he has been hugely successful before.
"I hope he shakes it up and lays out his template."
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