Manchester United spent the last day of the transfer window scrabbling around trying to sign a striker, finally landing on Odion Ighalo. And the club are determined not to have a repeat of their seemingly occasional haphazard approach to signings by hiring a team of eight to help identify talent through the use of data.



Led by a head of analytics, the new department will use data to profile potential targets, as well as contribute to United’s academy and medical teams. United do use analysis at the moment, particularly video, but are surprisingly a little behind other leading clubs when it comes to data in recruitment, instead paying big money for high-profile players. So the move is a positive step forward.



The club are using a headhunter to approach candidates, who all had to sign non-disclosure agreements before entering into talks. Some of those candidates are now at the second stage of interview.



The decision to hire this team should also help...