Manchester United are now interested in appointing Julian Ward to work under expected sporting director Dan Ashworth.
United are yet to put a deal in place for Dan Ashworth but the Newcastle United man is expected to arrive.
Ashworth is likely to lead a revamped United recruitment staff and other moves have already been rumoured.
Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox is thought to be a prime target after his work with Manchester City’s academy.
United will need to pay compensation to get Wilcox out of Southampton but one target is currently out of work…
Manchester United want Julian Ward
The Sunday Mirror (25/02, p66) report that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team have now made an approach to Julian Ward.
The idea would be for the Ward to work under Ashworth and play a key role in United’s new recruitment team.
An exact job role hasn’t been specified but a head of recruitment role may make sense if Ashworth is becoming sporting director.
Reports in January suggested that Ward was being lined up for the top job at United if Ashworth couldn’t be lured away from Newcastle.
Yet with Ashworth likely to come in now, Ward could be eyed up as Ashworth’s right-hand man in something of a coup given that he was most recently serving as Liverpool’s sporting director.
Who did Ward sign at Liverpool?
Ward was a key part of Liverpool’s recruitment team for many years, working alongside Michael Edwards during an incredible run of signings.
Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane all spring to mind, helping Liverpool win the Premier League and Champions League.
42-year-old Ward only spent two transfer windows as Liverpool’s sporting director and his big deal was to sign £85million striker Darwin Nunez.
Ward brought the Uruguayan to Anfield and he has been impressive this season with nine goals and seven assists in 24 Premier League games.
Ward also landed two talents in Calvin Ramsay and Fabio Carvalho, but they are both currently out on loan at EFL clubs.
Liverpool then pounced to land Cody Gakpo – a player often linked with United – in a deal worth up to £44million.
Nunez and Gakpo were Ward’s two big additions and United would be looking for him to help get big deals over the line alongside Ashworth.
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