Manchester United are closing in on a deal to bring Dan Ashworth to the club from Newcastle United.
Manchester United are looking to negotiate a deal to bring Dan Ashworth to the club as soon as possible.
Ashworth has already informed Newcastle of his intention to join Manchester United’s Ineos revolution, where he will take on the post as sporting director.
Newcastle aren’t happy. They can posture and try and drag the situation out. BBC Sport report he is now on ‘gardening leave’.
But sooner or later, terms will be agreed, and Ashworth will end up taking on the big role he covets at the world’s biggest club, Manchester United.
Ben Foster backs Dan Ashworth
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster knows first hand what it is like to work at a club where Ashworth has oversight. He was signed by Ashworth for West Bromwich Albion back in 2012.
Speaking to The United Stand, Foster relayed his personal experience with Ashworth.
Foster said: “I worked with Dan Ashworth at West Brom when I was younger. He’s brilliant. He was the guy that signed me.
“He’s done fantastic, West Brom to England, Brighton, then Man United, we all suppose.
“The fact that Dan Ashworth hasn’t come out and said ‘I’m not leaving’, means that he’s leaving. The silence is deafening, the silence says it all.
“He will be on his way to Man United and he’s a brilliant signing. He’s a guy that really does his due diligence on players he’s about to sign.
“He knows what people you need in what department,s and how it should be run. That trickles all the way down.
“He’s a people person, he knows his football, he’s smart, he’s direct, he’s clever.
“Everybody at the club loved him. He will tell you the truth, there’s no sugar coating it, he will call a spade a spade. People like that, where they know where they are.”
Manchester United are building a new leadership core
It is so crucial that Dan Ashworth is not being asked to do everything by himself, and solve all of Manchester United’s many problems.
Ineos are amassing a team loaded with experience, which began with Sir Jim Ratcliffe enlisting the help of his advisor Sir Dave Brailsford and Ineos CEO Jean Claude-Blanc, who is expected to take a seat on the board.
They have already appointed Omar Berrada as chief executive, who quit Manchester City. Ashworth will work as sporting director, and could be supported by Jason Wilcox, the current Southampton sporting director.
The Athletic report Wilcox could even arrive before Ashworth, and he is a man who Berrada knows, having worked at him with City. So this is not a unit randomly thrown together.
Brailsford and Ashworth know each other very well and have consulted previously together, and Manchester United hope this elite off-field team will lead to a top-class one on the pitch.
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