Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly been in talks with super agent Jorge Mendes over the club's recruitment strategy.

Mendes, who represents top players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Darwin Nunez and Pedro Neto, is being tapped into for his extensive contacts in the football world. Ratcliffe is currently conducting an overhaul of United's operations and scouting network.

He is also bringing in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United as Sporting Director and Jason Wilcox from Southampton as Technical Director. The new owner plans to be hands-on in signing new players, having expressed dissatisfaction with the club's previous recruitment policy.

Recognising Mendes' influence in the transfer market, Ratcliffe hopes to utilise his expertise. This approach has proven successful for Wolves and Nottingham Forest, who have both heavily relied on Mendes' players.

United now aim to follow suit, with Benfica midfielder Joao Neves a Mendes client already on their wish list. The 19-year-old Portugal international fits Ratcliffe's vision of a young, ambitious player eager to make an impact.

United have been eyeing up AC Milan's hotshot Rafael Leao, another gem from Mendes' stable, but with a hefty £100million price tag, his move to Old Trafford seems less on the cards compared to Neves, reports the Mirror.

Earlier this month, Ratcliffe played down the idea of splashing cash on superstar signings: "It's not where our focus is," he admitted. He pointed out the flawed strategy of the past decade: "The solution isn't spending a lot of money on a couple of great players. They've done that over the last 10 years."

Ratcliffe emphasised the need for a solid foundation at the club: "The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes who are managing and organising the club and make sure we get recruitment right. It's such a vital part of running a football club today, finding new players."