Manchester United is on the hunt for a new head of recruitment, and Crystal Palace’s sporting director, Dougie Freedman, is their top choice for the role. Freedman has been excelling at Palace since taking on the role in 2017, overseeing successful signings like Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, and Eberezi Eze.
The Red Devils have been searching for a figurehead to lead their recruitment efforts following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover of the club. While other candidates like Michael Edwards, Danny Ward, and Paul Mitchell were considered, United has settled on Freedman and is expected to make a move for him soon.
Freedman has not only been responsible for bringing in talented young players at Palace but has also made the most of the club’s scouting department, producing stars like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Wilfried Zaha, and Tyrick Mitchell. This focus on youth talent is crucial for United as they look to close the gap with rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
With Freedman in the recruitment role, United hopes to turn around their fortunes after years of underwhelming signings and nearly £1.3bn spent since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. The club has not won a title since Ferguson’s departure and is eager to bring in fresh talent to change their fortunes.
Freedman would report to Dan Ashworth on the football side of things and operate under Omar Berrada at United. His experience and success at Palace make him a promising choice for the Red Devils as they look to revamp their recruitment strategy. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.