Woodward is keen to restructure Manchester United and is keen to get people in that know the club identity.
Paul Scholes and Mike Phelan have also been linked to director roles ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer at Old Trafford.
The Mail claim that United owners the Glazer family have been keen to get Ferdinand on board since his retirement.
However personal circumstances made that unworkable with Ferdinand’s wife Rebecca passing away in May 2015.
But it’s reported that the owners now feel the time is right to lure Ferdinand back with Woodward having identified the former England star as a strong candidate.
Rio Ferdinand had a glittering career as a Manchester United player (Image: GETTY)
There could be plenty of Man Utd changes at Old Trafford this summer (Image: GETTY)
Ferdinand did recently admit he doubts whether United will be able to attract players this summer due to the club being in transition.
“It’s easy to know who you’re going to go for,” he said.
“It’s just are Man United going to be at the front of the queue now when you’re going for players?
“If you’re going to go for the top, top level players.
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Man Utd: Woodward ‘knows nothing about football’ says expert
“It is a giant of a club and if I was a player out there and Manchester United came in for me now in today’s game, I’d be thinking ‘can I be one of the players who is the catalyst to getting this club back to where it should be?’.”
“That [staying in the Champions League] definitely is a case.
“But I still think Man United carry the weight in terms of the exposure a player will get once they come here.
“But the recruitment in the last few years has probably not been at the level you would probably want from this club.”