EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd put off Michael Edwards by HUGE salary demands

Jacque Talbot

• 31 Jan 2024 11:45 GMT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Manchester United approached Michael Edwards but his demands of £12million per year put them off, FootballTransfers has been told.

After contact was made, Edwards informed the side that to even entertain the job at Old Trafford he would want an unprecedented salary. Ineos had asked about the sporting director's availability but his salary demands saw any deal reach an impasse. As reportedly previously, the club's main target is Paul Mitchell, who left his role at AS Monaco in August.

Liverpool also expressed interest in Edwards, who served as their chief recruiter for 11 years before departing in the summer of 2022. However, the club's pursuit of a new sporting director has suffered a setback as he declined the opportunity to return to Anfield.

After a hugely successful tenure as the brains of the club's impeccable transfer strategy in recent years, Edwards was asked again by Fenway Sports Group to take up a position in light of Jurgen Klopp's announcement of his departure this summer.

Jorg Schmadtke, the sporting director, is also set to leave his role after two transfer windows. But Edwards has made it clear that he has no interest in returning to the position with the Merseyside club.

Edwards is credited with identifying and signing some of the most successful players for the Kop in the last decade.

Ineos unhappy with Erik ten Hag recruitment

It comes after FootballTransfers’ story that Ineos already have replacements for Erik ten Hag in mind ahead of the end of the season.

Though no talks are underway at this stage, FootballTransfers understands, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's consortium is baffled but the recruitment made by the Dutchman and believe that a fresh start is needed in the summer.

We are told that there are major concerns about the players who have been bought in by Ten Hag - and even more about why they were chosen. The ambition is to strip the Dutchman of any power when it comes to transfers, with a lot of his deals going through agency SEG.