Manchester United Finally Set to Make ‘Formal Approach’ for Key Appointment Before Summer Window

What Is United’s Plan With Dan Ashworth?

Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Red Devils have been working on the possible appointment of the Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth for quite a few weeks now and that the Englishman is also the “top target” for Ratcliffe and Ineos.

With Sir Jim’s contingent having assumed the powers to make sporting directors within the club, their current objective seems to be the appointment of a new sporting director. Romano adds that United will now make a formal “approach” to tempt Ashworth to leave the Magpies to join them after having had initial talks go in a positive direction.

However, the journalist adds that everything depends on Newcastle United and that the club will have discussions with their director over his future very soon. Interestingly, the Manchester Evening News are claiming that Ashworth wants the Manchester United job and is prepared to give up his role at St. James Park as a result.

What Can Ashworth Bring To Old Trafford?

The 52-year-old had tried his hand as a footballer in the late 1980s and early 1990s, playing for Non-League club Eastbourne Town for a season before also playing for semi-professional club St. Leonards. However, he retired from football in 2000 and spent nearly a decade at West Bromwich Albion, operating as a youth team coach and then as a technical director.

He earned his reputation as the Football Association (FA)’s director of elite development, spending six years in that role before joining Brighton in a director role in 2018.

Ashworth earned the reputation for being a smart recruitment specialist, helping the Seagulls sign the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, and Kaoru Mitoma for cheap. He joined Newcastle United in a director role in 2022 and has helped them sign players like Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali.

The 52-year-old clearly has a great eye for spotting promising young talents and it remains to be seen if he can bring his skills to Old Trafford anytime soon.