Manchester United are targeting Everton director of football Marcel Brands.
The Dutchman's deal expires at the end of the season and Italian club Roma are interested.
But now Brands is being strongly linked with a summer move as part of United's restructuring.
And friends believe he would find a formal approach hard to refuse, says The Sun.
Brands, 58, an ex-player, built his reputation over 20 years in Holland where he had roles at RKC Waalwijk, AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven.