Dan Ashworth wants to join Manchester United. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Dan Ashworth is ‘increasingly likely’ to become Manchester United’s first Sporting Director as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in the club.
The 71-year-old’s £1.3bn investment is being finalised, and could be announced before the end of the year.
Though it will take a further six to eight weeks to get ratified, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team are already hard at work in the background.
Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc met United executives at Old Trafford earlier this month, and an audit has been undertaken at the club following Richard Arnold’s departure as CEO.
While the stadium and training ground are concerns for INEOS, their main concern once their investment is confirmed will be recruitment.
United have squandered over £1.3bn since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 and Ratcliffe’s INEOS group already have ties with Ashworth.
Ashworth was a vital part of Brighton’s fantastic recruitment in recent years, which earned him a move to Newcastle.
Blanc, Brailsford and Ratcliffe are already hard at work (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
In the north-east, he’s overseen moves for Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
Ashworth is said to be keen on the move to Old Trafford and the Daily Mail say he’s ‘increasingly likely’ to join the Red Devils.
It would be a significant coup for Ratcliffe, who is expected to make Blanc the club’s new CEO.
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