Dan Ashworth Accepts Manchester United’s Offer as Sporting Director
In a groundbreaking move, Dan Ashworth has accepted Manchester United’s offer to become the club’s first-ever sporting director. The news comes after INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, identified Ashworth as the top candidate to oversee the sporting side of the business at Old Trafford.
Ashworth’s rise through the ranks has been impressive, starting at West Brom and then moving on to the FA. However, it was at Brighton where he truly made his mark, overseeing successful moves for players such as Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Marc Cucurella.
Despite his recent move to Newcastle United in 2022, Fabrizio Romano reports that Ashworth couldn’t resist the allure of Manchester United and has accepted their offer. However, he will have to serve a 12-month notice period before officially joining the club.
Manchester United is keen to have Ashworth in place before the summer transfer window. Negotiations with Newcastle will be necessary to release him from his current post, and it is expected that a significant compensation package of around £6 million will be required.
Omar Berrarda, who will be arriving from Manchester City as the club’s new CEO, is believed to have given the green light for Ashworth’s move. Once Ashworth joins, the club will then focus on appointing a head of recruitment and a new head of scouting.
The confirmation of Ratcliffe’s deal is expected to take place on the New York Stock Exchange next week, following approval from both the Premier League and FA for his £1.3 billion investment.
With this exciting development, Manchester United is poised to make significant changes to their sporting structure. The addition of Ashworth as sporting director marks a new era for the club and signals their commitment to building a strong and successful team.
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