It is an appointment that has been 140 years in the making. For the first time in their history, Manchester United are preparing to appoint a director of football/technical director to work alongside executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and 'soon-to-be' head coach Jose Mourinho.

So why now?

Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, United have lacked a tangible identity and philosophy with three very different managers - David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho - at the helm.

That has been reflected in their scattergun approach in the transfer market, too.

In Woodward's first 10 windows as executive vice-chairman, United have signed jaded Galacticos; been relatively frugal; resorted to deadline-day purchases; and even looked at the next generation. All at various points since 2013.

Without a common theme, United have bought manager-specific players like Marouane Fellaini and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who are not always rated by their successors. The idea with a director of football is that will no longer happen and players who fit the 'United way' will be prioritised.

So here is a look at the key questions surrounding the appointment.

Is this a knee-jerk decision?

No.

It has been a frustrating summer for Mourinho - the United boss wanted five signings and had to settle with three - but the club have planned to make this appointment for some time.

Entering the realm of agents and transfer negotiations was new to Woodward when he stepped into David Gill's sizable shoes as the club's executive vice-chairman in the summer of 2013.

While the 46- year-old has surrounded himself with advisors and super agents like Mino Raiola and Jorge Mendes, he is keen to share that responsibility as a behind-the-scenes revamp continues.

Quietly, an overhaul of the club's scouting network has taken place and United now have more than 50 scouts on their books, with their network in Europe, Asia and South America having trebled in size in recent years.

"This goes unseen and is not necessarily about bringing in more and more young players, but making sure that the correct due diligence is carried out before signings are made," a United source previously told MEN Sport.

"Ed was instrumental in the drawing up of the restructure of the academy, pulling in ideas from different teams and experiences from other clubs to produce a model that is right for United in the context of the modern game.

"The training ground has had a restructure under Ed and further investments are planned to maintain our position as having the best facilities on offer to youth players, through to first team."

A director of football is the next step in that behind-the-scenes restructure.

Has Mourinho worked with a director of football before?

A lot has been made of Mourinho's strained relationship with go-betweens in the past - Avram Grant anyone? - and it is not a secret that the Portuguese prefers the traditional British model.

So much so that Florentino Perez eventually dispensed with Real Madrid hero Jorge Valdano, then serving as director general, to please his manager in an unprecedented move back in 2011.

But the continental model has helped Mourinho before and a sporting director was at the heart of his greatest achievement - leading Inter Milan to a historic treble.

It was Marco Branca who sat to Mourinho's left when he was presented to the media in 2008 and the former Middlesbrough striker was an ever-present at the club's training ground during their time together.

Remarkably, their relationship stayed strong in such an intense environment.

Mourinho and Branca quickly hit it off

"I saw Jose almost every day as I followed training. We talked often. Between us there was a great harmony and synergy," Branca previously told MEN Sport.

"My relationship with Jose has always been excellent, direct and respectful of our respective roles. I have never found resistance on his part. I have always acted in the knowledge to bring him what he needed, even when I changed six of the starting XI in the year of the treble."

Who is in the frame?

The usual suspects - Monchi, Fabio Paratici and Dan Ashworth - have all been linked with the role. One name who does not appear to be under consideration, though, is Luis Campos - despite his longstanding friendship with Mourinho.

The pair go way back and even came up against each other on the touchline while Mourinho was managing Porto. Indeed, it was the former Gil Vicente boss who ended Mourinho's 27-game unbeaten run in 2004.

Eight years later, Mourinho headhunted Campos as his tactical and talent scout at Real Madrid and the pair remain close.

Campos currently works as Lille's sporting director but MEN Sport understands he wants to leave the club and has previously held talks with Chelsea about their vacant technical director position.

When could the appointment be made?

United are taking their time with such a huge decision but are expected to make the appointment before the end of the year. The club generally draw up their summer recruitment plans early in the spring so will be keen to have their man on board by then.

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