Lee Congerton has been considered for a return to the Premier League with Manchester United but Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad have now thrown their hat into the ring for the former Leicester City director.
Manchester United know from first-hand experience just how effective Congerton can be when attempting to eke every last penny out of a big-money deal.
Now working as the head of recruitment at Serie A outfit Atalanta, Congerton helped Leicester City earn a record-breaking £80 million during Harry Maguire’s move to Old Trafford before Rasmus Hojlund joined the Red Devils for an initial £64 million last summer.
Manchester United want a director of football
According to The Telegraph, the 51-year-old Welshman could soon be doing deals on behalf of Man United rather than with them. Congerton is one of the candidates to become sporting director under INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
But, with Dan Ashworth now ‘increasingly likely’ to get the gig instead and Paul Mitchell seemingly the first reserve, the one-time Chelsea scout could take his contact book to Saudi Arabia instead.
The Daily Mail report that he has been earmarked to take over in a similar role at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad. Champions last season under the new Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, Al-Ittihad have endured a difficult start to their title defence despite boasting a squad containing Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Italy international centre-half Luiz Felipe.
Dan Ashworth could swap Newcastle for Old Trafford
The Mail believe that Ashworth, meanwhile, is ‘set to’ take over from John Murtough at Man United. Ashworth earned a reputation as one of English football’s sharpest operators during spells in the FA and with Brighton. He joined Newcastle in 2022, and has since helped to maintain the Magpies remarkable rise from relegation dodgers to top-four challengers under Eddie Howe.
“On my way up to the gantry last night, I bumped into Dan Ashworth,” Man United legend Gary Neville wrote on X after the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup hammering by Newcastle in November.
“He transformed the FA’s structure, set Brighton up for this incredible period of success and has now built a strong foundation for the new owners at Newcastle. He’s competent, highly qualified and knows what he’s doing. (Ashworth) will work with his coach, recruitment team and other departments coherently and calmly.
“Manchester United have played clubs that have installed proper football departments to support the team on the pitch and off it. The complete opposite of United. We haven’t got a sporting director!
“I used to travel up to Newcastle and feel sorry for their great fans when the energy and enthusiasm had been sapped from them under Mike Ashley. It was painful to see. Last night we saw the Theatre of Dreams turn into the Theatre of Nothing.”
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