Moyes poaches Premier League's head of elite development... who helped bring through Rooney and Barkley

David Moyes has taken the first step in his promised restructuring of Manchester United in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement by poaching the Premier League’s head of elite development to work as part of his coaching set-up at Old Trafford.

It is understood that United are currently discussing severance terms with the Premier League over the highly-rated John Murtough, the man who was partly responsible for bringing through a teenage Wayne Rooney during one of two stints working with United boss Moyes during his years at Everton.

It is not yet clear exactly what role Murtough will fill at Old Trafford but his CV - that includes two spells at Everton, four years at Fulham and a year at the Premier League - is crammed with experience of work developing top young stars.

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Fist pump: David Moyes and Manchester United are close to bringing in John Murtough Guidance: Murtough was partly responsible for bringing through Wayne Rooney

His second spell at Everton - from 2008 until he joined the Premier League a year ago - saw him oversee the emergence of current Everton stars Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman as well as England international Jack Rodwell.

United sources stressed last night that Murtough will not be any threat at all to established staff such as current academy director Brian McClair.

United, meanwhile, have seen revenues rise by 29.1 per cent to £98m in the first quarter of this financial year following the publication of the club’s quarterly accounts.

However, the club has admitted within the report that forecasted revenue for the full year of £420-430m is based on the assumption that Moyes’s team will finish at least third in the Premier League this season and also reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.