Man Utd blow as Edwin van der Sar ruled out of director of football role after signing four-year Ajax extension
MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a blow over appointing a new director of football after Edwin van der Sar signed a new four-year Ajax contract.
The legendary Old Trafford keeper, 49, won the Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008 — making the title-winning save in the penalty shootout.
There had been hopes he would move back to United, where they have been looking for a director of football.
Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward confirmed the club had been looking into appointing a big name in the boardroom to manage transfer targets and contracts.
But the Dutch stopper, 49, quit United in 2011 after his wife Annemarie suffered a brain haemorrhage a year earlier.
He moved back to Holland to help his wife's recuperation and thankfully she is better with no long-term effects.
Club legend Paul Scholes is among players who think United should avoid appointing a director of football.
While manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has appointed a personal scout Simon Wells to assess players with potential.
United are among the front-runners interested in signing £85million-rated Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg, and Wells was sent by Solskjaer to run the rule over him.