Fabrizio Romano has affirmed that a significant appointment at Manchester United is imminent, stating confidently that “It will happen.The agreement has been made and you can expect official announcements in the coming days”
Ashworth might be the one to determine the new manager for Manchester United, as Erik ten Hag's challenging season with the club might lead to adjustments initiated by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ashworth might be the one to determine the new manager for Manchester United, as Erik ten Hag’s challenging season with the club might lead to adjustments initiated by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Manchester United’s recent poor performance in the Premier League has resulted in them slipping to seventh place, out of the Europa League positions, and virtually ending their hopes for Champions League qualification.
With uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is advocating for Dan Ashworth to join the club and spearhead the search for a new manager.
Ten Hag arrived at Manchester United at the beginning of last season, and despite a slow start, he concluded the campaign with a Carabao Cup trophy and a third-place finish.
Fans had hoped for further success under his leadership, including a strong European campaign and additional silverware.
However, the Dutch manager has failed to replicate last season’s achievements, leaving United in seventh place, trailing by 13 points for Champions League qualification, and possessing the tenth-best home record in the league. This has led to increased dissatisfaction among supporters at Old Trafford.
Although new leadership is being considered, the process of appointing a new manager for United is still underway. Ratcliffe is keen on Ashworth taking charge of the search, especially if he can lure him away from his current position at Newcastle.
According to the report from HITC, Ratcliffe aims for Ashworth to commence his role in June, immediately after the conclusion of the English football season.
This timing would enable Manchester United to embark on a significant rebuilding phase, encompassing both player personnel and potentially managerial staff, in preparation for the upcoming campaign.
INEOS conducted their initial assessment of the club and its operations through Sir Dave Brailsford, who is believed to still be examining the intricacies of operations at Old Trafford.
The establishment of a structured hierarchy has been pivotal in United’s progress since INEOS acquired their stake, and this organizational framework could facilitate their pursuit of a new manager.
While individuals like Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc, and Omar Berrada—especially with Berrada arriving from Manchester City—are all assuming high-level roles at the club, the addition of Ashworth is anticipated to be of paramount importance to Ratcliffe.
HITC also reported that Ratcliffe has directly approached Newcastle director Amanda Staveley to secure Ashworth’s signature, with Newcastle seeking £20 million to release him from his contract.
INEOS is actively pursuing Ashworth, as he would spearhead the search for a new manager.
While Ratcliffe admires Ten Hag and his efforts in developing young players, Manchester United’s recent performance has been subpar, with just one win in their last seven Premier League games and elimination from the Champions League in a group where they were expected to progress.
Consequently, United are exploring potential new managers, prompting their desire for Ashworth to lead the recruitment process.
Manchester United have been linked with various managers, but no clear frontrunner has emerged. Julian Nagelsmann has long been rumored, but he appears poised to return to Bayern Munich.
Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton is another name, but the club may have to pay £12 million to secure his services. Despite his relative lack of experience, Thiago Motta has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Old Trafford dugout.
Whether Manchester United will decide to dismiss Ten Hag remains uncertain at this point. However, there are legitimate concerns regarding his performance, particularly given the significant decline observed in his second season at the club.