The Red Devils have reportedly identified their man for the role of sporting director.

Following the dull approach to signing players in this summer's transfer window, Manchester United is set to appoint its first-ever sporting director to hone the role of recruiting players. The Red Devils, after securing the signatures of Diogo Dalot, Fred, and Lee Grant, failed to add any more players to their ranks.

This, as a result, infuriated manager Jose Mourinho who claimed to have given his wishlist for his club's chief Ed Woodward to consider and act on.

The unfortunate development triggered the need for Manchester United to acquire the service of a sporting director and, according to Sky Sport, the club has identified a former employee of West Brom, Dan Ashworth, as a potential candidate to take on the new role.

The 47-year-old who once played for Norwich City is currently the English FA's director of elite football develop. In recent years, he has gained a reputation for the roles he's played in the successes enjoyed by England's U17s and U20s on the world stage as well as the U19s in Europe.

Also on the reported shortlist is Paul Mitchell, the man whose work made it possible for the signings of Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne at Southampton and the recruitments of Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld, Heung-Min Son and Kieran Trippier at Tottenham Hotspur.