United entered a new era in December when Mourinho was relieved of his duties following a torrid start to the Premier League season.
And club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was brought back to Old Trafford on an interim basis to help restore the club’s identity.
Solskjaer is expected to return to Molde at the end of the current campaign having been loaned in from the Norwegian side.
And that means Manchester United executive vice-chairman Woodward is in the process of determining who should be Mourinho’s full-time successor.
Mauricio Pochettino is thought to be United’s No 1 target thanks to his exploits at Premier League rivals Tottenham.
And the Red Devils have been tipped to hand over big money to prise him away from Spurs, who currently sit third.
Zinedine Zidane, meanwhile, is a less costly, if not more illustrious, option having left Real Madrid last May.
Former United centre-back Laurent Blanc and Red Bull Salzburg’s Marco Rose are also on United’s radar at this stage.
However, the London Evening Standard claim another appointment is being planned before that of a new manager.
Woodward and his fellow board members are keen to install a football-minded presence as part of a major restructuring process.
And that means they want a director of football or technical director in place prior to choosing Jose Mourinho’s replacement.
The director of football or technical director would work above the next United boss in their role.
And getting them on board first means they can help in the search for a new permanent manager.
As is the case at other club’s with a similar structure, United’s director of football or technical director would be charged with taking control of their transfer strategy going forward.
Former Tottenham bigwig Paul Mitchell has been touted as an option to work above United’s next gaffer.
Mitchell is currently head of recruitment and development at Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.