Deal Agreed: What To Expect From Manchester United Potential Sporting Director
Manchester United agree deal with Newcastle to appoint Dan Ashworth as new sporting director.
The 53-year-old is expected to commence his position in the new-look Manchester United structure with immediate effect.
What to expect from Dan Ashworth
He is set to have overall responsibility for football performance, recruitment and operations at the 20-time champions of England, with technical director Jason Wilcox reporting to him.
Ashworth will himself report into Sir Dave Brailsford, who Ratcliffe has tasked with undertaking a review of the United’s football operations.
Ashworth is regarded as one of the best in the business and is credited with helping to transform Newcastle into a top-four contender. He has also previously worked for England’s national team and has a wealth of experience in the game.
It is believed that Manchester United are keen to bring in a sporting director to help oversee their transfer strategy and Ashworth is seen as the perfect candidate for the role. Manchester United’s interest in Dan Ashworth comes at a time when the club is seeking to overhaul its footballing operations.
The Red Devils have been accused of being too reliant on manager Erik ten Hag to make transfer decisions and they are now looking to change that by bringing in a sporting director. Ashworth has a proven track record of success and is seen as someone who can help to shape the future of the club.
Manchester United’s pursuit of Dan Ashworth also comes at a time when the club is looking to revamp its academy. The Red Devils have a long and proud history of developing young players, but there have been concerns that their academy has fallen behind in recent years.
Dan Ashworth has experience of developing youth players during his time at both West Bromwich Albion and the FA, and is seen as someone who can help to revitalize Manchester United’s academy.
The club is also hoping that Ashworth can help to improve their data analytics and sports science departments. These are seen as areas where Manchester United have fallen behind their rivals and the club is ready to make a notable revamp on the club’s performances on and off the pitch.
A key part of Dan Ashworth’s appeal to Manchester United is his reputation for building strong relationships with key figures within the game. This is something that the club feels is lacking at the moment and they believe that Ashworth can bring a new level of cohesion to the club.
In particular, it is thought that Ashworth’s relationship with England manager Gareth Southgate could be beneficial for Manchester United’s young players.
The appointment of Dan Ashworth would be seen as a significant coup for Manchester United, who are eager to build a structure that will help them return to the top of the English and European game.
