Paul Mitchell identifies first £87m Manchester United transfer target ahead of INEOS job offer

Paul Mitchell has identified his first target ahead of a potential job offer from Manchester United, according to reports.

Paul Mitchell looks likely to be joining Manchester United in the coming months as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s overhaul of the Old Trafford sporting structure.

INEOS have been delegated all football responsibilities of Erik ten Hag‘s club, with the group keen to bring in multiple new decision-makers to help streamline and improve the current process at Old Trafford.

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This has already taken shape with Jean-Claude Blanc and Sir Dave Brailsford being added to the football club board. Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth is likely to follow suit, with former Tottenham and Southampton football director Paul Mitchell also following suit, according to reports.

Relevo, a Spanish sports outlet, has revealed that not only is Mitchell “close” to joining Old Trafford, but that he has also already identified his first transfer target.

This comes in the form of Valencia CF starlet Javi Guerra, with the report claiming that United have sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old midfielder on multiple occasions, with the match reports being described as “tremendously positive”.

Further to this, it is said that the club have already made Guerra aware of their interest in his talent, but that they may have to dig “deep into their pockets” to sign the player.

Guerra has a release clause of £87 million in his contract, and Valencia will not sell until the summer – but although it is likely that Valencia will accept a fee lower than his release clause, this could still fall within the region of £35 million.

Villarreal have a 30% sell-on clause agreed with Valencia after Guerra transferred from the Castellón club.