An Applaud
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is riding a wave of optimism fueled by INEOS’ recent investment, and his sights are set on a key figure to spearhead the club’s footballing renaissance: Dan Ashworth, currently the sporting director at Newcastle United.
Ten Hag, impressed by INEOS’ ambition, expressed his alignment with their goals for the club. “The players and staff are aligned with the ambitions of INEOS,” he declared, “We want to win and achieve the highest.” However, a major hurdle lies in their quest for Ashworth – Newcastle wouldn’t let him go easily.
Ashworth, known for his astute transfer dealings and talent development during his stints at West Brom, Brighton, and now Newcastle, has emerged as the top target for the proposed new football operations role at Old Trafford. He boasts a track record of identifying hidden gems like Moises Caicedo, Kaoru Mitoma, and Bruno Guimaraes, highlighting his potential value to United’s struggling transfer strategy.
While formal talks haven’t commenced, Ashworth reportedly remains open to the idea. However, Newcastle wouldn’t budge without a fight. Understandably, they’d demand significant compensation for this valuable asset, and a gardening leave wouldn’t be out of the question.
What’s coming!
Ten Hag, recognizing the need for targeted recruitment, stressed the importance of a sporting director like Ashworth. “It’s important to have the right players and the right characters,” he stated, “Developing a good team means having good communication to get the right players.”
Meanwhile, another name floats on United’s radar: Jason Wilcox, Southampton’s director of football. His connection with incoming CEO Omar Berrada from their Manchester City days makes him a potential collaborator for Ashworth in the new structure.
Whether United can convince Newcastle to relinquish Ashworth, or if Wilcox emerges as a viable alternative, remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Ten Hag and INEOS are determined to shake things up at Old Trafford, and a revamped football operation might just be the first domino to fall.
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