Ranking Man Utd's Director of Football Candidates

Manchester United is in urgent need of new leadership to guide the team back to the pinnacle of English and European football.

Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club has experienced a series of setbacks. However, there is hope for a turnaround under the guidance of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.

Omar Barreda is set to switch from Manchester City to Manchester United in the summer as the new CEO. According to the Daily Telegraph, the search for a new football director has been narrowed down to two candidates.

The identities of these two potential appointees have not been disclosed, but a long list of individuals who are believed to have featured in United's recent search is available.

Here's a ranking of these contenders by their suitability for the United job.

At present, Dougie Freedman is with Crystal Palace. Noteworthy transfers include Michael Olise, Ebere Eze, Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, Conor Gallagher, and Cheick Doucoure. While Freedman has made impressive signings, the Palace has not significantly progressed during his tenure. It is likely he needs another move before aiming for United.

Currently serving at Juventus, Cristiano Giuntoli has gained recognition for some of his recruitment work, previously associated with Napoli and Carpi. However, as Juventus are currently on an upward trajectory, it seems unlikely he will be easily lured away.

Andrea Berta, currently with Atletico Madrid, has enabled the team to maintain competitiveness against Real Madrid and Barcelona. During his tenure, the team has clinched La Liga twice.

Lee Congerton, despite currently being without a club, has extensive experience in the field. However, since leaving his role as the chief scout at Chelsea in 2011, his career path does raise questions.

Paul Mitchell, another unaffiliated contender, was acclaimed for his 'black book of transfers' which yielded successful signings. However, he has faced criticism for attempting to sign several key players from his previous team, Southampton.

Young prospect Julian Ward, also between clubs, has had a positive though short career so far. His relative youth could provide him an edge in staying connected with the progression of the game.

The final candidate, also unaffiliated, is Paolo Maldini, alongside Frederic Massara. Despite the difficulty in envisioning Maldini working away from Milan, his role in building the 2021/22 Scudetto-winning team cannot be denied. Manchester United would likely benefit significantly from his leadership.