Manchester United are making progress in their efforts to finalize a new executive team that will expand Jason Wilcox's power base at the club.
Following the shock departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has authorized chief executive Omar Berrada to put together a new senior management team, with those plans now moving ahead.
There were internal discussions about replacing Ashworth with another external candidate on the executive team, although any new hire would not be given the title of Ashworth's sporting director. But it is understood that the decision has been made, at least for the moment, not to make new appointments.
Instead, Wilcox, while retaining the title of technical director, will take on an enhanced remit and work closely with Berrada on the front line of United's day-to-day operations.
Alongside Wilcox and Berrada, Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford will represent the owners to form a three-man football leadership team.
Meanwhile, Mail Sport understands Christopher Vivell, who joined the club in July as interim director of recruitment, is now in talks to take up a permanent role at United. There is some optimism that a deal can be reached with Vivell in the coming weeks.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) has empowered chief executive Omar Berrada, while technical director Jason Wilcox (left) will have a bigger role going forward.
The Red Devils have restructured the recruitment department following the shock departure of Dan Ashworth last month.
Christopher Vivell joined Manchester United as interim director of recruitment in July last year.
It can also be revealed that operations director Collette Roche will take on additional responsibilities at the club's training center in Carrington. His enhanced role is designed to allow Wilcox to focus more on the performance aspects of his role rather than the day-to-day operational and logistical running of the club's training headquarters.
The main candidate emerges to replace Edu
Arsenal's acting sporting director Jason Ayto has growing internal support to take on the role permanently.
Ayto has taken over Edu's responsibilities since the Brazilian left his role in November, Mail Sport can exclusively reveal, and is making a big impression behind the scenes at the club.
The club's owners are impressed with Ayto's work since his interim appointment and are seen as a real candidate to fill the vacant position.
The position has become one of the most sought after in European football given the impressive project that Mikel Arteta has built. Bayer Leverkusen's Simon Rolfe and Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe are among the candidates being considered, while Dan Ashworth and Tomas Rosicky have also been linked with the role.
Edu is currently taking a period of gardening leave, believed to last six months, before taking on an expected global role in Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' portfolio of clubs.
Edu (left) is currently on gardening leave following his shock departure from Arsenal in November.
Arsenal interim sporting director Jason Ayto has growing internal support to take on the role permanently.
City progress in relation to Khusanov
Manchester City are making positive progress in their signing for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
The Premier League champions have a particular interest in the 20-year-old centre-back and are in talks over a deal to sign the Uzbekistan international this month.
Talks are currently centering on Lens' £35m valuation of Khusanov, but there is growing optimism that a deal for the highly-rated defender is realistic this month.
City are also trying to complete a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
Manchester City have a specific interest in 20-year-old Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov
Next steps for Bentancur after the worrying collapse
Tottenham medical staff will carry out regular home checks on Rodrigo Bentancur over the next few days following his worrying collapse on the pitch on Wednesday night.
Bentancur will not be allowed to return to the club's training headquarters until he receives the medical green light to return, as he recovers from the worrying incident in the first half of the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the semi-final first leg. of the Carabao Cup. .
Bentancur fell to the ground with no one around him in the first half, causing widespread concern for his health, and was taken to hospital to undergo extensive medical tests before returning home on Wednesday night.
He has provided a positive update on social media since the incident, posting a photo of himself with his fiancee Melany La Banca with a message that read: 'All good guys! Thanks for the messages!!! Congratulations on the win guys!!!'
Rodrigo Bentancur fell to the ground with no one around him in the first half of Tottenham's 1-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday.
Chelsea's Chalobah-Guehi master plan
Chelsea's plan to use Trevoh Chalobah as extra weight in a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi could stumble over wages.
Mail Sport revealed this week that the Stamford Bridge club want to sign England centre-back Guehi this month to try to address Wesley Fofana's latest injury, which could keep the Frenchman out until the end of the season.
Chelsea are interested in a swap deal involving Chalobah, currently on loan at Selhurst Park, and their former academy star Guehi.
Palace, unwilling to let Guehi leave cheaply this month despite only having 18 months left on his contract, would prefer a straight cash deal for their captain.
But even if the Eagles were to consider Chalobah as part of any Guehi exit, it is understood there are doubts that Palace would even be able to agree a wage package with him.
Chalobah's wages are said to be around £80,000 a week and while that is possible in Palace's wage structure, there are doubts over whether more could be afforded if the player seeks a rise upon changing clubs. Palace are open to signing Chalobah on a permanent deal but would prefer that not involve Guehi.
The Blues are attempting to use Trevoh Chalobah (right) in a deal to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi (left).
Tuchel 'very impressed' by Enfield headquarters
England manager Thomas Tuchel was “very impressed” with a tour of Tottenham's training center on Saturday morning.
As Mail Sport revealed last week, Tuchel's first scouting assignment as national team boss was Spurs' 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.
And the German visited Spurs' training headquarters in Enfield before heading to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium for the Premier League fixture.
While St George's Park, in Burton, is England's usual training base during international breaks, England often use Tottenham's state-of-the-art facilities before matches at Wembley.
Tuchel officially started his new job as England manager on January 1, and one of his first jobs was to review Spurs' facilities, accompanied by England manager John McDermott, who was previously Tottenham's academy director.
Former Chelsea manager Tuchel was given special access to the club's training and media facilities, as well as the on-site hotel, The Lodge, where his players and staff will stay between matches.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was “very impressed” when he was offered a tour of Tottenham's training centre.
Investors seek financing for the Palace move
Sportsbank officials will fly to the Middle East in the coming days with a view to finalizing their deal to become controlling partners of Crystal Palace.
In October, Mail Sport revealed investment vehicle Sportsbank's bid to take partial control of Selhurst Park, and on Wednesday it was confirmed they had signed an exclusivity deal to invest £230m in US businessman John Textor's Eagle Holdings Limited, which owns 45 percent. cent of the south London club.
Sportsbank executives will travel to various parts of the Gulf to consolidate financial investments that will finance the investment in Textor's company.
It is hoped the deal, including Premier League ratification, can be concluded early next month.
Reports have indicated that Sportsbank is facing competition from a Saudi Arabia-based consortium that wants to directly buy Textor's stake in Palace, rather than investing in Eagle Holdings.
In that case, there would be major doubts about whether Sportsbank would continue with its commitment to Eagle, because its plan to invest in Textor's company is conditional on Palace remaining under the umbrella of the businessman's clubs.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed investment vehicle Sportsbank's bid to take partial control at Selhurst Park in October
Sportsbank has signed an exclusivity agreement to invest £230m in US businessman John Textor's Eagle Holdings Limited.
West Ham's contingency plans
West Ham were confident that Christophe Galtier and Paulo Fonseca would have accepted their position as head coach if their decision to appoint Graham Potter had not been successful.
Potter has been named the Hammers' new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui on Thursday.
But Mail Sport has learned that agreements were reached in principle with both Galtier and Fonseca if Potter, the club's clear first choice, turned down the opportunity.