Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has three candidates on his shortlist for the job of technical director, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Edwin van der Sar, Darren Fletcher and Rio Ferdinand are the trio that are being targeted for the role, although it remains to be seen whether any of them will be offered the position.

Ferdinand does not have any experience of football administration and has been working as a pundit for BT Sport since his retirement from the game.

Fletcher, meanwhile, has not formally retired from playing after leaving Stoke City at the end of the last season. The 35-year-old was reported as being a leading candidate for the role back in May, and it appears he is still being considered by Woodward.

Van der Sar does, though, remain the standout contender. He has been Ajax’s CEO since 2016 and has recently stated that he’d be open to returning to Old Trafford in the future.