According to reports, Dan Ashworth is willing to leave Newcastle United and join Manchester United’s new sports organisation under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
As part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in the team, Newcastle United transfer guru Dan Ashworth is reportedly the new top contender for Manchester United’s sporting director position. This is according to an exclusive report from Football Insider. The 52-year-old is reportedly “attracted” to the idea, and first talks about a possible shift in the near future have already taken place.
The man in charge behind the scenes, Ashworth, is still being linked to a move to Old Trafford even though he recently swore allegiance to Newcastle United in the event that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposed £1.25 billion buy-in materialises. The Magpies are preparing for a battle to hold onto one of the most important players at the team.
Finalising the investment, the 71-year-old may make the announcement before the year is out. Ratcliffe and his INEOS team are already hard at work in the background to establish up a new football structure at the club, with some significant top-level hires in the works, even if it will take a further six to eight weeks for the Premier League to ratify.
Ashworth is the front-runner for the position of football supremo, and the Red Devils are preparing to give him a prominent role that might persuade him to leave Newcastle just six months after he moved from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Englishman’s influence has already been enormous. Since his arrival, he has been in charge of a number of significant transfers, including the hiring of Sandro Tonali—a controversial addition—Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Kieran Trippier.
His possible departure would be a huge loss for the Magpies because he also manages the Toon Academy, making sure every child has a clear route to the senior team and matching the style of play with Eddie Howe’s first team.
The former West Brom technical director is therefore happy in his position at St. James’ Park, but because of his past association with Sir Dave Brailsworth, Ratcliffe’s right-hand man, who is keen to bring the highly regarded football executive to Manchester United in order to turn things around, he might be drawn to a move to Old Trafford.
