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Manchester United have agreed a deal with Newcastle United for the employment of Dan Ashworth as Sporting Director.
This is as per tier one journalist David Ornstein, who said “Move delayed by #MUFC & #NUFC struggling to compromise on compensation package but switch now sanctioned + 53yo expected to start immediately.”
🚨 Manchester United agree deal with Newcastle United to appoint Dan Ashworth as sporting director. Move delayed by #MUFC & #NUFC struggling to compromise on compensation package but switch now sanctioned + 53yo expected to start immediately @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/emvoKbqZAG
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 1, 2024
Following the departure of John Murtough, new part-owners Ineos decided on Ashworth as the right man to take on the revamped director of football role at Old Trafford.
Retitled “sporting director”, it had been hoped that Ashworth would be released by the Magpies, but following his resignation they placed him on gardening leave, demanding £20 million in compensation, which United refused to pay.
Following threats of legal action by Ashworth, the matter has now finally been settled, although Ornstein, writing in The Athletic, has not revealed the settlement fee.
“The 53-year-old is expected to commence his position in the new-look Manchester United structure with immediate effect,” Ornstein confirms.
“He is set to have overall responsibility for football performance, recruitment and operations at the 20-time champions of England, with technical director Jason Wilcox reporting to him.
“Ashworth will himself report into Sir Dave Brailsford, who Ratcliffe has tasked with undertaking a review of the United’s football operations.”
The appointment will complete the executive structure above manager Erik ten Hag, with Omar Berrada also starting today as CEO, and Jason Wilcox already having started work in May as technical director.
Ashworth will certainly need to hit the ground running, as United have not made any signings nor sold any of the players earmarked for departure.
Replacements are needed for the outgoing Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial and a decision needs to be made over the futures of Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton and Sofyan Amrabat, whose contracts all expired yesterday (in Amrabat’s case, a loan deal from Fiorentina that had a buy option now expired).
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all expected to be moved on this summer.
The former Brighton sporting director will be hoping to bring home some of United’s top transfer targets, which include Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee, Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.
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