Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has insisted that the arrival of one key figure could “decide” how Manchester United operate under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos is at the helm of football operations at Manchester United after he secured a 25 per cent minority stake in the Premier League club.
The 71-year-old British billionaire’s deal to buy a stake in United, which is worth around £1.03bn, was approved by the Premier League earlier this week.
Ratcliffe’s stake purchase, which was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023, is still awaiting approval from the Football Association before it is fully finalised.
The boyhood United fan will also put up £236m for future investment into the Old Trafford stadium as part of the deal.
Ratcliffe is set to make important changes at United behind the scenes, with Ineos director of sport Sir David Brailsford expected to be a key figure for him at the club.
However, Graeme Souness believes the arrival of one man at Old Trafford will play a crucial role in defining the immediate impact of Ratcliffe’s regime at United.
Souness talks Dan Ashworth and Man Utd
Dan Ashworth, who is currently the sporting director at Newcastle, is believed to be a top target for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos at Manchester United.
The Newcastle sporting director has been widely hailed for his work in football, having previously played a key role in Brighton’s development.
Ashworth has reportedly been open to a move to Old Trafford and his arrival would be the latest statement of intent for Ratcliffe and Ineos.
United’s hierarchy added Omar Berrada, who was praised for his work at Manchester City, to their ranks last month as chief executive after he left City Football Group.
Speaking in his column for The Daily Mail, Graeme Souness refused to play down the significance of Dan Ashworth’s appointment to a key role at United.
“Eddie Howe says he wants a quick resolution to Manchester United’s pursuit of Dan Ashworth because he knows Newcastle’s ‘secrets,’” he wrote.
“I am presuming ‘secrets’ refers to the players that are on their radar.
“It is clear Ashworth is well regarded in the game following his time with West Brom, the FA and Brighton – and we will soon find out just how good he is.
“This appointment will decide how Manchester United do under the new regime. It is imperative United get recruitment right and everything he does will be scrutinised.
“UEFA put out a statistic saying that, the last financial year and Chelsea’s spending notwithstanding, United have the most costly assembled squad in history, worth £1.2billion.
“Tell me, if there was a fire sale tomorrow, what price would you get for any of those players?”
Souness on Man Utd being linked with Jason Wilcox
Along with Ashworth, Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox has emerged as a target for Ratcliffe and Ineos as part of their massive shake-up at United.
Souness criticised United’s recruitment after the departures of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill, with the Liverpool legend blasting Ed Woodward’s work at the club.
The former Sky Sports pundit said that the people arriving at Old Trafford in key roles would be “scrutinised like never before in their lives” over “every decision.”
“Recruitment has not been right at the club since Alex Ferguson and David Gill departed,” Souness continued.
“They were replaced by Ed Woodward who was responsible for all the big football decisions and was not equipped to do so.
“It would appear they went down the road of making signings based on their social media following rather than their qualities as a footballer.
“United also want Jason Wilcox from Southampton as part of a new-look team.
“They are going for football people with good track records but those people must now be prepared for every decision they make to be scrutinised like never before in their lives. That’s the price on the ticket at Manchester United.”
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