Man Utd identify Ed Woodward replacement as successor could be named this month

Manchester United are edging ever closer to an announcement in their official appointment of Ed Woodward's successor and are set to promote from within.

Woodward has often been a divisive figure among the Old Trafford faithful, but resigned in the wake of the controversy surrounding the failed inception of European Super League, a project that sparked outrage among football fans everywhere - including those of the clubs involved.

Replacing David Gill in the role, Woodward was named as United's vice-executive chairman in 2012 and despite overseeing some of the biggest transfers in the club's history - particularly this summer's additions of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and most notably the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, he is hardly a popular figure with his club's fanbase.

Man Utd Chief Executive Ed Woodward is set to be replaced by Richard Arnold in the coming weeks (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)

This was only heightened in the wake of the Super League controversy, after which he said: "I am extremely proud to have served United and it has been an honour to work for the world's greatest football club for the past 16 years.

"The club is well positioned for the future and it will be difficult to walk away at the end of the year.

"I will treasure the memories from my time at Old Trafford, during a period when we won the Europa League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. I am proud of the regeneration of the club's culture and our return to the Manchester United way of playing.

"We have invested more than £1bn in the squad during my time here and I am particularly delighted with the progress the players have made under the astute leadership of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching team in the last two years.

"I am sure that with the changes we have made on-field and to the coaching and football staff in recent years this great club will soon be lifting silverware again. It deserves to."

According to Sky News, Manchester United's group managing director Richard Arnold is in line to take over.

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Ed Woodward is set to leave Man Utd after 16 years at the club ( Image:

PA)

The same report claims that Arnold could be announced as Woodward's replacement 'within weeks', though the decision is yet to be officially signed off and did not rule out a late change.

Arnold has worked closely with the club's owners, the Glazer family, for years and has been tipped as the frontrunner for Woodward's role for months now.