Liverpool and Man Utd ‘battle’ for ex-Tottenham man ‘looking for return to England’ in director role | OneFootball

Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly set to ‘battle’ for Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell, who is ‘looking for a return to England’.

Mitchell previously had recruitment jobs in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. He has since been lauded for the work he has done at RB Leipzig and AS Monaco.

Liverpool are in the market for a new director as it was confirmed earlier this season that Julian Ward will be departing the club at the end of this season.

Football Transfers are reporting that Liverpool are set to ‘battle’ Man Utd for Mitchell. He would seemingly be open to a move back to the Premier League as he is ‘looking for a return to England after turning down fresh terms at Monaco’.

His current contract is due to expire in 2024 and he has reportedly indicated that this summer transfer window ‘will be his last’ at the Ligue 1 outfit.

Chelsea were linked with Mitchell last year but Liverpool or Man Utd are his ‘most likely destination’, though a move to Anfield is the ‘more viable option at this point’.

The report adds that Mitchell’s stance on remaining at Monaco this summer ‘could change if Liverpool make a formal approach’. This is while Ward is ‘liked’ by Eredivisie side Ajax.

Man Utd meanwhile only appointed John Murtough last year but Mitchell is said to be a ‘Red Devils fan’.

Mitchell recently pointed out that Man Utd “need a top blueprint” to “work towards” over the next five years.

“It is sometimes hard to comment when you’re not in the internal and always understanding the context,” Mitchell said.

“I use that word a lot because I think context is important to measure what Manchester United’s current situation is, but I think they do need to get to the point of really putting down what Manchester United needs to be in the modern game. We are a long time from the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

“Erik ten Hag is a top coach from Ajax but they need a top blueprint not only for now but for the next five years, and work towards that, and sometimes on that journey there are hard moments when you don’t get the right results, even though you’re doing the right things. You have to know that, over that period, the consistency of the decision-making will yield a good end result.

“I think we’ve seen that both Manchester City and Liverpool, that when you adopt that long-term strategy you can get real consistency and sustainable success.

“I think that’s the biggest thing for Manchester United; putting down their identity of what they want to be today, but most crucially what they want to be in five years’ time, and where they want to be, and what they want to look like; from everything from young players, to the style of play, to the whole culture peace in Manchester United.”

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