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The first port of call for Manchester United’s new co-owners INEOS is trying to get structure behind the scenes before they take on their first summer transfer window.
The club’s haphazard approach to the market ever since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired has seen a series of stylistically different managers come in and overpay for big-name players, and that ploy hasn’t quite worked.
The squad is still full of players brought in by previous managers, some of whom do not suit Erik ten Hag’s style, and most of the players the Dutchman has brought in are also quite disappointing.
The new-look team will control recruitment and also decide on a stable style of play that will be followed across the club.
The new look team is being set up
The Red Devils will have a new chief executive in Manchester City’s Omar Berrada and former City academy boss Jason Wilcox as technical director.
Dan Ashworth is desperate to join as sporting director from Newcastle United, with both sides currently embroiled in a legal battle as the clubs try to agree a compensation package.
The Magpies had hoped to sign Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman to replace the former Brighton boss, but according to Football Insider, the former Nottingham Forest man rejected the offer, opting to stay at Selhurst Park.
Meanwhile, the 20-time Premier League champions were looking at bringing Freedman to Old Trafford as their new head of recruitment after Sir Alex recommended his name.
“Dougie Freedman has turned down an offer from Newcastle to replace Dan Ashworth as sporting director and will remain at Crystal Palace, sources have told Football Insider.
“Freedman, who impressed the Tyneside club with his work at Crystal Palace, has now decided to stay at Selhurst Park.
“The Scot, who took over as Palace sporting director in 2017, was high on Newcastle’s shortlist for his ability to buy and develop top young talent.
“Freedman has also been linked with a potential move to Man United under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new regime at Old Trafford.”
Newcastle suffered another major blow
Freedman has certainly done a good job with Palace’s tight budget, bringing in the likes of Reading’s Michael Olise, QPR’s Eberechi Eze and Swansea’s Marc Guehi (loan) for peanuts.
There has been talk that the trio could follow the Scot to St James’ Park, but that seems unlikely at this point. All three are also targets for United.
It hasn’t been a good deal for Newcastle off the pitch with the complicated situation with Ashworth and now the news that Freedman has turned them down. They will have to keep looking for the right replacement.
Whether United steps up again for Freedman will be interesting to watch. Few say no when the Old Trafford side come knocking.
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