David Beckham’s Miami MLS expansion team is nearing a hire for its general manager position, and has zeroed in on one candidate as the favorite.



Paul McDonough, Atlanta United’s vice president of soccer operations, is the frontrunner for the job, league sources tell The Athletic. McDonough has spent the past two and a half years with Atlanta after previously serving as Orlando City’s general manager through its expansion process.



With experience in building two expansion rosters, McDonough would give the Miami franchise a huge lift in MLS knowledge, both in roster construction and other areas of the club, including the building of a training facility and scouting network.



McDonough has played an instrumental role in some of the biggest transfers in MLS in recent seasons, notably those of Miguel Almirón, Josef Martínez, and Ezequiel Barco. Atlanta currently sits atop the Supporters’ Shield standings in just its second MLS...