Rio Ferdinand remains tight-lipped amid rumours of Manchester United return

Rio Ferdinand remained tight-lipped amid talk of a surprise return to Manchester United as sporting director. The Old Trafford giants are going through a background restructuring process, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward looking to bring in a technical director having named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, left, and Rio Ferdinand, right, were team-mates at Manchester United (Gareth Copley/PA) Press Association Sport understands that United have decided for the title of technical director rather than a director of football or sporting director, with a number of individuals sounded out over recent months as the club look for the right fit. Woodward is understood to have spoken to ex-United defender Ferdinand as he looks to fill the role, but the exact intricacies of such conversations are unclear. The former centre-back was seen speaking to former United team-mate and current Ajax chief executive Edwin Van Der Sar – another man linked to the Old Trafford post – on Tuesday and was asked on BT Sport if he was getting tips following Tuesday’s reports. Ed Woodward, left, is looking to oversee a restructure of United’s off-field staff (John Walton/PA) “The game today is more important than talking about that,” Ferdinand said ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg between Tottenham and Ajax. “He’s a lovely fella (Van Der Sar). He’s doing a fantastic job there. He was just telling me the ins and outs of what he actually gets up to there. “It’s very demanding but very satisfying when you’re playing at a level like this at this stage in the tournament.” Mike Phelan, right, has also been linked with the role (Martin Rickett/PA) United intend to name their technical director before the start of next season, with the role to take in the first-team set-up and a longer-term view incorporating the academy pathways. Mike Phelan, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former right-hand man, has also been linked with the role after working as Solskjaer’s assistant since December. The 56-year-old has yet to sign a full-time deal at Old Trafford and has been working as sporting director of Central Coast Mariners, who are bottom of the A-League in Australia. Topics Rio Ferdinand, Premier League, Man Utd Ferdinand claims Sterling does not get enough credit because he is black Ole’s at the wheel: How social media reacted to Solskjaer’s appointment Ferdinand wants to recapture ‘chemical of competition’ from boxing United ready for busy summer transfer window in bid to revamp Solskjaer’s squad 5 things we learned from Tottenham’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax Tottenham toil as Ajax gain vital advantage in Champions League semi-final Robins still in play-off hunt after comeback win Differential focus: Why Romelu Lukaku should be turning heads Mane ‘jealous’ that Barcelona lured Coutinho away from Liverpool Quiz! Can you name every PFA Player and Young Player of the Year winner since 1992/93? Virgil van Dijk exclusive: “I’m not going to lie, I was pretty scared – I could have died” Quiz! Can you identify these 40 European clubs by their unusual nicknames? Quiz! Can you name the last 48 scorers in Champions League semi-finals? Tuesday’s big transfer rumours: Arsenal target ready to leave Premier League rivals