Manchester United have held discussions about hiring a technical director with the aim of overhauling player recruitment, but such an appointment will not be made while Jose Mourinho is at the club unless he approves the appointment, sources have told ESPN FC.

United have held internal discussions after a disappointing summer transfer window that led to tensions between Mourinho and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Woodward and the board are keen to revamp the way the club recruit players and believe a new appointment would aid a more joined up approach.

However, sources said that United chiefs have included Mourinho in the process and are reluctant to impose a technical director on the 55-year-old, who has already been at the club for two-and-a-half years, unless he approves the choice.

Mourinho has spent more than £360 million on players since arriving at Old Trafford in 2016, but was left frustrated this summer after he was allowed to spend just £68m to sign midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk, teenage full-back Diogo Dalot from Porto and reserve goalkeeper Lee Grant from Stoke.

He is keen to revisit his attempts to sign a centre-back once the January transfer window opens with Inter's Milan Skriniar, Milan's Alessio Romagnoli and Nikola Milenkovic of Fiorentina among those being considered.

Sources said that United are open to spending in January but only if the right opportunity emerges.

Jose Mourinho, manager of Manchester United, acknowledges the fans after the win over Everton. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Mourinho has said he is at a disadvantage compared to other challengers in the Premier League and the Champions League after accusing the club of failing to build on the second place finish last season.

He missed out in his bid to strengthen the defence with a new centre-back and ahead of the Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday said he believed the Goodison Park club -- who spent £80m to sign six new players in the summer -- must have similar ambitions to his own judging by their transfer business.

It followed a comment aimed at his board earlier in the season when he said he was no longer manager but "head coach."

Following the Champions League defeat to Juventus, Mourinho praised the way they had followed up their Serie A success last season by signing Cristiano Ronaldo and Leonardo Bonucci, and described them as a "big club."