Dan Ashworth will be given the responsibility of rebuilding Manchester United‘s scouting department when he becomes the club’s director of football, with Brighton‘s head of recruitment, Sam Jewell, identified as the leading candidate to head up the new structure, sources have told ESPN.
United are in talks with Newcastle United in an effort to release Ashworth from his contract as sporting director at St James’ Park and sources have said that a swift resolution could see the 52-year-old granted permission to move to Old Trafford in the coming days, subject to a period of gardening leave being served before beginning a new role in Manchester.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, who will take charge of football operations at United once their 25% investment is finally confirmed by the NYSE next week, want Ashworth to transform the recruitment system at Old Trafford after undertaking an audit of the club’s recent transfer dealings.
Only Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have spent more than United on new players since 2018, but United have won just one trophy — the 2023 Carabao Cup — in that period.
