Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has emerged as the clear favourite to become the club's new director of football.
The Red Devils have been criticised for some time now when it comes to the position, mainly for how the club lacks structure in this area. In fact, it showed last summer when former United manager José Mourinho struggled to land all of his transfer targets.
Well, it looks like the club might be considering the position and Cantona has become the odds-on favourite for bookies.
The 52-year-old Frenchman, who is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League signings of all time, played for United from 1992 to 1997 before he retired from football.
Other club legends being considered for the position include Edwin van der Sar, who is the CEO at Ajax, and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
Check out the full list below.
- Eric Cantona: 1/1
- Paul Mitchell: 3/1
- Edwin van Der Sar: 4/1
- Fabio Paratici: 11/2
- Monchi: 11/2
- Andrea Berta: 11/1
- Gary Neville: 14/1
"Manchester United's need for some direction at boardroom level has never been clearer, so it would be a brave decision to hire Cantona despite his legendary status," says Oddschecker spokesman George Elek.
"With Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton in the Old Trafford directors' box already, it would be a perplexing decision to bring the Frenchman into the role."
During a recent United investors' call, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward addressed the situation regarding a director of football position.
"With regards to the director of football, lots has been written about this," he said (via the Manchester Evening News).
"I would say that looking at our structures and looking at how we should strengthen, all areas of the club is something we're doing on a continual basis.
"On the football side, we've invested around the recruitment side, the player care side, continued investment with facilities, medical and sports science, so the evolution is continuing.
"It's not necessarily that visible to the outside and, in some respects, you get a multi-year return later on [rather] than an immediate impact.
"But in regards to the overall structure, we are looking at that [the head of football role] and ways we can make it stronger and it is something we'll do on a continual basis."
Does United need a director of football? If so, who should the club appoint to the position?
Let us know in the comments.
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