Manchester United won't hire a sporting director with Jose Mourinho in charge

Mourinho is under intense pressure and needs a result at Chelsea this weekend

Upheaval to the club structure during his third season would be a major surprise

They have been linked with Paul Mitchell and Fabio Paratici to fill the new role

Manchester United are unlikely to appoint a sporting director while Jose Mourinho remains manager.

Sportsmail understands there are no immediate plans to fill the potential vacancy at Old Trafford, the first in the club's history.

ADVERTISEMENT

United have been linked with a plethora of names for the role, ranging from Paul Mitchell to Fabio Paratici at Juventus.

Manchester United are unlikely to appoint a sporting director while Jose Mourinho is there

Click here to resize this module

Mourinho needs a result at Chelsea this weekend and although he remains under intense pressure, upheaval to the club's structure during his third season would serve as a major surprise.

It is believed executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward would be open to an internal appointment when United do eventually begin to reshape their team behind the scenes.

There are a number of senior members of staff already filling some criteria of a sporting director and a modernising would involve a selection of those.

Mourinho was outspoken about his frustration at United's transfer business in the summer before it then emerged some of his targets were vetoed by the club's hierarchy.

Show Player

United have been linked with Fabio Paratici at Juventus (pictured) as well as other candidates

The Portuguese wanted to lavish more money on defenders, even after the signings of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof on his watch, but United passed on his list of possible targets.

Paul Scholes this week criticised Mourinho for taking a 'sly dig' at United's scouting department - headed up by ex-Everton talent spotter Steve Brown - while praising West Ham for unearthing defender Issa Diop after defeat at the London Stadium last month.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brown works closely with scouting auditor Mark Platt, formerly a performance analyst, who collates data from United's branch of more than 50 scouts across the world.