Brighton’s head of recruitment seems unlikely to reunite with Dan Ashworth at Manchester United with Sam Jewell accepting an offer from Premier League rivals Chelsea instead.
Last week, reports emerged suggesting that – once Dan Ashworth finally takes up position in the new Ineos-led boardroom at Old Trafford – would look to reunite with a familiar face.
Ashworth worked alongside Sam Jewell at Brighton and Hove Albion, both playing a key role in The Seagulls emergence as one of the most forward-thinking, well-run clubs in modern football (ESPN). The report claims the former is a ‘big admirer’ of the latter.
A reunion at Manchester United now appears unlikely, however. While Ashworth is facing up to more time spending in the proverbial garden than Alan Titchmarsh on a balmy spring afternoon, The Athletic reports that Jewell will take up a key role under Todd Boehly at Chelsea.
Manchester United target accepts Chelsea role
Jewell will become the latest to swap Brighton for Stamford Bridge, though it remains to be seen if he fares rather better than the much-derided director Paul Winstanley and former head coach Graham Potter, who managed only a few months in the Chelsea dugout.
Jewell played a key role in some of the most inspired signings in recent Premier League history. Alexis Mac Allister and Julio Enciso moved to The Amex on his watch. As did Moises Caicedo, who earned Brighton a £110 million profit when he swapped the South Coast for, yes, Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
Ashworth, meanwhile, is still expected to end up at United at some point, even if Newcastle continue to make life a little harder than Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co would have liked with their demands for a sizeable compensation fee.
United still expected to land Dan Ashworth
“If I had my choice to take a sporting director it would have been him,” United legend Rio Ferdinand tells Vibe with Five. “I think he’s the best. (Ashworth is) so calm, he’s so sure on what he’s doing. He’s so focused, he’s diligent, he knows the market.
“He’s not swayed, I don’t think he gets bullied by agents, stuff like that. He knows the market value of players.
“He ain’t getting told this player’s worth 50 but for you it’s 75. It ain’t happening, we’ll just move on to other targets then.”
Jewell’s impending move to Chelsea could potentially see United step up their pursuit of Southampton chief Jason Wilcox.
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