Manchester United could face an unwanted recruitment headache as Bayern Munich consider a move for Christopher Vivell in their search for a new chief scout, per TZ.
Vivell plays a key role in the Man United recruitment operation, having been appointed director of recruitment permanently after initially arriving on an interim deal.
His remit covers the Man Utd global scouting network, recruitment strategy and the identification of emerging talent.
However, he is attracting attention from Germany, with Bayern reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for Nils Schmadtke.
Vivell’s contract at Old Trafford runs until 2027, meaning any approach would leave United with a key decision to make over a central figure in their football restructure.
The 39-year-old has already been handed significant responsibility under the new Man United hierarchy, reporting to technical director Jason Wilcox.
He has helped restructure a recruitment department that has undergone considerable change.
His appointment was viewed as an attempt to bring clarity to United’s transfer strategy following years of criticism over their work in the market.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have made recruitment one of their biggest priorities as they try to build a leaner, more effective football operation.
Vivell’s challenge has been to identify players capable of succeeding at Old Trafford while working within tighter financial restrictions.
He reportedly influenced the signing of young midfielder Sekou Kone.
Losing him would therefore be a setback at a delicate stage of United’s rebuild.
Vivell has extensive experience in European recruitment and has previously held senior positions in several major football operations.
He took a pay-cut for the permanent position, which shows how much he wanted to join the club.
But his background and existing relationship with Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund make him an attractive candidate to the German giants.
For United, losing him would be a blow.
After restructuring their recruitment department around Vivell, allowing him to leave would mean yet another behind-the-scenes change at Old Trafford.