OLD TRAFFORD chiefs are ready to sign up talent- spotting king Jim Fraser — after his Chelsea exile.
Fraser spent 20 years at Stamford Bridge before being axed last year.
Now his gardening leave is ending and he looks set to join .
United are in the process of cutting about 200 jobs behind the scenes and also getting rid of several scouts.
But minority owner sees Fraser as a key capture as they plan to sign leading young talent for the future.
He was Chelseaacademy chiefand boasts a huge reputation for unearthing top young stars.
At the Blues, he helped to discover the likesof, , and .
Other gems included , and .
This fits with Ratcliffe’s push to discover talent at United — rather than spend fortunes on risky big-name signings.
United’s shake-up has begun, with leading figures like David Harrison — their director of football operations — leaving.
The club’s top brass have tried to delay the announcement of major redundancies until theend of this season.
Cost-cuttingchiefs held club-wide reviews, including senior scouting, with many interviewed about their roles.
The month-long process ended a few weeks ago but the final cull was not meant to be made public at such a vital moment.
There were fearsthe axings would hurt morale in the final weeks of the season as they chase Europa League glory.
It comes as as the Spaniards eye Benfica left-back AlvaroCarreras.
Los Blancos reportedly hope to use the 22-year-old’s former club United as a “bridge”; to help recruit the £51millon-rated star.
The Red Devils sold Carreras for just £5.1m – but with a £15.3m buy-back clause.
aim to work with United so that the Prem giants activate the defender’s relatively cheap asking price.
Madrid could then step in to buy him – for a fee still well below £51m.
