Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth is once again being linked with a role at Manchester United to head up their new footballing department when Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes control of football operations.
According to talkSPORT, Manchester United still hope to poach Dan Ashworth as director of football from Premier League rivals Newcastle United once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover is confirmed.
The fallout from Manchester United’s Champions League exit continues, with the future of manager Erik ten Hag under scrutiny. The Red Devils crashed out of European football altogether in meek fashion with a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
The Dutch tactician has now lost 12 of his 24 games this season ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Anfield, where they suffered a 7-0 humiliation back in March. Ten Hag’s position is understood to be safe in the short term. But with Ratcliffe waiting in the wings for his £1.3 billion deal for 25 percent of the club to be ratified, his long-term job security is far from guaranteed.
As per the report, former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter is in line to take over, having already held talks with the Ineos chief. Ratcliffe is understood to be a big admirer of the former Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion coach and had previously wanted to hire him to take charge of OGC Nice.
Another one of the main tasks for the incoming Manchester United regime — with former head of British Cycling Dave Brailsford the prime mover — will be appointing a director of football at Manchester United.
Newcastle United sporting director Ashworth is considered the first-choice for Brailsford, who shares a close relationship with the 52-year-old going back many years. Ashworth is also close with Potter from their days working together at the Amex Stadium.
Newcastle United will do all they can to resist any approaches for their transfer supremo, who has overseen a canny recruitment drive and a full-blown academy transformation at St. James’ Park, while Ashworth himself recently played down links to moves away from Newcastle United, insisting he is happy in the North-East.
However, as per iNews, Brailsford has not given up hope of enticing him to Old Trafford and sees him as a “dream” appointment. Further potential shake-ups to Manchester United’s backroom staff may involve the appointment of Paul Mitchell, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco, to assume the role of head of recruitment in the near future.
