COMMENT: So, Louis van Gaal as director of football? How does such an appointment improveManchester United?
If LVG is to be 'kicked up stairs' when Jose Mourinho's arrival is confirmed, where is the benefit for United? We know the benefit for Ed Woodward, the vice-chairman exec. Even if it's nothing more than a vanity appointment, with Van Gaal still on the payroll, Woodward doesn't have to answer any questions from the board or shareholders about two managerial sackings in three seasons.
But what about on the ground? How on earth does handing Van Gaal the plum job of boss of all football operations at the biggest club in the world actually improve the current situation?
Even now in England, recognition of what a plugged in director of football can bring to a club is finally emerging.
The success of Leicester City and Tottenham didn't just happen. The Foxes have Steve Walsh to thank for putting together their title-winning squad. At Tottenham, John McDermott was given greater powers in the New Year, being confirmed as technical director after stepping up from the academy. That Spurs now look the team to beat next season owes no small part to the work of McDermott below the first team. Both are serious, low-key football men, who have smashed the perception inside English football of what their job can actually bring to a club.
On the continent, it's now becoming the norm that it's a responsibility for two men - if not more. At Juventus, Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici have just overseen a fourth consecutive domestic title. PSG lifted their French crown thanks to a squad put together by Jean-Claude Blanc and Olivier Letang - and there's talk of Leonardo now returning for the summer market. And in Spain, Atletico Madrid have Jose Luis Caminero, Miguel Angel Gil Marin and Andrea Berta covering all bases as they prepare for a second Champions League final in three years.
Manchester United? Well, if The Sun has this story nailed, then the manager who has controlled transfers with Woodward for the past two seasons, will now be doing the same, but with a different title. How is this of benefit to United?
This is the same manager who has gone through the likes of Javier Hernandez and Angel di Maria. Now both stars at their respective clubs, Bayer Leverkusen and PSG. He signed and dumped Victor Valdes. And it's also worth mentioning Michael Keane, now back in the Premier League with Burnley, and Pierluigi Gollini, a target for Everton after a super season between the posts of Hellas Verona.
With such a track record, would any outsider be granted an interview with Woodward, let alone handed the job?
That this is now being contemplated inside Old Trafford shows a real lack of seriousness about how far the club has fallen since Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill stepped away.
Woodward's drive to overhaul United's global scouting system is a welcome move (though it took two years to act on the concerns of David Moyes). But the guy with the world class commercial expertise shouldn't be overseeing such a project. That's the responsibility of a director of football.
And those claims that Mourinho can't work with a football director can be dismissed. Yes, it turned toxic with Michael Emenalo in his final months at Chelsea. But at Real Madrid, Mourinho was happy to bounce ideas off Jose Angel Sanchez. And at Inter Milan, he developed a very strong relationship with Lele Oriali.
Both weren't Mourinho men. Their loyalty was to their president. But neither fell out with Mourinho. Indeed, Tribalfootball.com can reveal that the prospect of following Mourinho to United has been discussed within Oriali's circle. The former Inter chief is currently team manager of Italy and has stated he'd like to stay on once Antonio Conte leaves to join Chelsea. However, the chance to work again with Mourinho at United would be tempting.
Mourinho can't do it on his own. And the job has clearly been too big for Woodward and Van Gaal. The need for greater football nous inn high-level positions at United is glaring.
Mourinho via Jorge Mendes, his agent, has relayed his concerns to Woodward. And Berta, it would seem, remains on the agenda, particularly with a new contract tabled by Atletico in January still unsigned.
What United have attempted these past three seasons clearly hasn't worked. A vanity appointment, after finally delivering to the United support Jose Mourinho, would be a step back.
Whatever happens after Wembley, and whatever happens with Van Gaal, Woodward needs to bring in a specialist. A fully qualified, experienced director of football.
Otherwise, the gap between Europe's proper football clubs and the stock exchange star that has become Manchester United is only going to widen.
