Man United’s new executive structure revealed and who holds the power now after major shake-up – plus the candidate impressing Arsenal chiefs in sporting director search: THE SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN

Manchester United are making progress in their efforts to put together a renewed executive team, which 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 given CEO Omar Berrada the powers to build a new-looking senior administration team, with those plans now moving forward.

There had been internal discussions about replacing Ashworth with another external candidate in the executive team, although a new hire would not be given Ashworth’s title of sporting director. But it is clear that, at least for the time being, the decision has been made not to make any new appointments.

Instead, Wilcox – while retaining the title of technical director – will take on an enhanced role, working closely with Berrada at the foundation of United’s day-to-day operations.

In addition to Wilcox and Berrada, Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford will represent ownership of a three-man football leadership team.

Meanwhile, Mail Sport understands that Christopher Vivell, who joined the club in July as interim recruitment director, is now in talks over a permanent role at United. There is some optimism that an agreement with Vivell could be reached in the coming weeks.

It can also be revealed that Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche will take on additional responsibilities at the club’s Carrington training centre. Her enhanced role is intended to allow Wilcox to focus more on the performance aspects of his role rather than the day-to-day operational and logistical management of the club’s training headquarters.

The main contender to replace Edu emerges

Arsenal’s acting sporting director Jason Ayto is gaining internal support to take on the role permanently.

Ayto has taken on Edu’s responsibilities since the Brazilian left his role in November, as exclusively revealed by Mail Sport, and is making quite an impression behind the scenes at the club.

The club’s owners are said to have been impressed with Ayto’s work since his appointment on an interim basis and are seen as a genuine candidate for the vacancy.

The position has become one of the most sought-after jobs in European football given the impressive project Mikel Arteta has built. Bayer Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfe and Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe are among those being considered, while Dan Ashworth and Tomas Rosicky have also been linked with the role.

Edu is currently on a period of garden leave, believed to be six months, before taking up an expected global role at the clubs of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

City is making progress with Khusanov

Manchester City are making positive progress in the move for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

The Premier League champions have a concrete interest in the 20-year-old centre-back and are in talks over a deal to sign the Uzbek international this month.

Discussions are currently centered around Lens’ €35m valuation of Khusanov, but optimism is growing that a deal for the highly-rated defender this month is realistic.

City are also trying to complete a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.

Next steps for Bentancur after worrying collapse

Tottenham’s medical staff will carry out regular home checks on Rodrigo Bentancur in the coming days following his worrying collapse on the pitch on Wednesday evening.

Bentancur will only be allowed to return to the club’s training headquarters after being given the medical green light to return, while he recovers from the incident in question in the first half of the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. .

Bentancur fell to the ground in the first half without anyone around him, causing major concerns about his health. He was taken to hospital for a thorough medical examination before returning home on Wednesday evening.

He has given a positive update on social media since the incident, posting a photo of himself with his fiancée Melany La Banca with the message: ‘All good guys! Thanks for the messages!!! Congratulations on the win guys!!!’

Chelsea’s Chalobah-Guehi Master Plan

Chelsea’s plan to use Trevoh Chalobah as a middleman in a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi could stumble over wages.

Mail Sport revealed this week that the Stamford Bridge club are looking to sign England centre-back Guehi this month, hoping to overcome Wesley Fofana’s latest injury setback, which could rule the Frenchman out until the end of the season .

Chelsea are interested in a swap deal involving Chalobah, who is currently on loan at Selhurst Park, and their former youth player Guehi.

Palace, who are unwilling to let Guehi leave on the cheap this month despite only 18 months left on his contract, would prefer an outright cash deal for their skipper.

But even if the Eagles were to consider Chalobah as part of a move for Guehi, there is some doubt that Palace could even agree a salary package with him.

Chalobah’s wages are said to be around £80,000 per week and while that is possible within Palace’s wage structure, there are doubts over whether they can afford more if the player is looking for a raise when moving clubs. Palace are open to a permanent deal with Chalobah but would prefer Guehi not to be involved.

Tuchel ‘hugely impressed’ by the Enfield headquarters

England head coach Thomas Tuchel was ‘hugely impressed’ by a tour of Tottenham’s training center on Saturday morning.

As Mail Sport revealed last week, Tuchel’s first scouting assignment as national coach was Spurs’ 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

And the German visited Spurs’ training headquarters in Enfield before heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the Premier League match.

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 in the build-up to matches at Wembley.

Tuchel officially started his new job as England boss on January 1, and one of his first jobs was checking out the facilities at Spurs, accompanied by England technical director John McDermott, who was previously director of Tottenham’s academy.

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.

Investors are seeking financing for Palace’s move

Sportsbank officials will fly to the Middle East in the coming days with a view to finalizing their deal to become controlling partners in Crystal Palace.

In October, Mail Sport announced investment company Sportsbank’s offer to take part control of Selhurst Park – and on Wednesday it was confirmed that they have entered into an exclusivity deal to invest £230 million in US-based Eagle Holdings Limited businessman John Textor, who owns 45 per cent of the south London club.

Sportsbank executives will travel to various parts of the Gulf to consolidate the financial investments that will finance the investment in Textor’s business.

It is hoped the deal, which includes ratification by the Premier League, can be completed early next month.

Reports indicate that Sportsbank is facing competition from a Saudi consortium that wants to acquire Textor’s stake in Palace outright, rather than investing in Eagle Holdings.

In that scenario, there would be significant doubt as to whether Sportsbank would continue its commitment to Eagle, as their plan to invest in Textor’s company is conditional on Palace remaining under the umbrella of the businessman clubs.

West Ham’s contingency plans

West Ham were confident that Christophe Galtier and Paulo Fonseca would have accepted their roles as head coaches had their bid to appoint Graham Potter been unsuccessful.

Potter has been appointed as 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 deals have been agreed in principle with both Galtier and Fonseca if Potter, the club’s clear first choice, turns down the opportunity.