“Bringing him to Old Trafford is really important to the development of the team. He’s going to have a lot of chemistry with Mainoo” – Ashworth prioritizes a major Manchester United deal after Zirkzee and De Ligt, and it’s NOT Branthwaite or Ugarte..

The next major deal Manchester United chief Dan Ashworth will target after securing Matthijs De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee has been revealed.

 

At the end of June, Man Utd and Newcastle agreed on a compensation package, allowing Ashworth to begin his role as the sporting director at Old Trafford.

 

Ashworth has quickly been immersed in his new role, with several signings nearing completion.

 

Man Utd will pay €42.5m to acquire Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who is set to be Erik ten Hag’s first summer recruit.

 

United chose to pay a slightly higher fee than the €40m release clause to secure favorable payment terms. Instead of paying €40m upfront, United will pay €42.5m in installments over three years.

 

Zirkzee has agreed to a five-year deal with an option for a sixth season and has traveled to England for a medical.

 

De Ligt may soon be joined at Old Trafford by his fellow Dutchman, Matthijs De Ligt.

 

Personal terms between the 24-year-old center-back and Man Utd are settled. Bayern Munich aims to collect €50m plus add-ons, and United is expected to finalize the agreement soon.

 

In addition to these deals, United is also exploring moves for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.

 

Branthwaite has agreed on personal terms with United, but two bids (the highest being £45m plus £5m in add-ons) were quickly rejected by Everton, who value him at £70m.

 

Ugarte has given the green light to joining Man Utd, with more details available here.

 

However, according to a fresh update from HITC, Ashworth’s top priority after Zirkzee and De Ligt is a different type of deal.

 

Dan Ashworth is focused on securing a new and improved contract for midfield sensation Kobbie Mainoo.

 

Mainoo, 18, had a breakthrough season, scoring memorable goals against Wolves, Liverpool (FA Cup), and Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

 

Despite his young age, Mainoo is already one of Man Utd’s most important players and appears to have cemented his place in England’s strongest eleven.

Mainoo’s current contract runs until 2027, but United believe it’s the right time to offer him a significantly improved deal to reflect his growing influence on the team.

Earlier talks in the 2023/24 season were paused by the player’s camp to allow Mainoo to focus on the Premier League and FA Cup campaigns. This decision paid off, as his excellent form earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, where he quickly secured a starting position alongside Declan Rice.

United are not expected to face difficulties in convincing Mainoo to sign a new deal once he returns from international duty.

The player is reportedly a big fan of current boss Erik ten Hag, who showed great faith in him last season. United’s decision to retain Ten Hag following their end-of-season review should further aid in securing Mainoo’s agreement.

Mainoo currently earns £20,000-a-week at United, with previous reports suggesting he’ll be offered a new deal worth £60,000-a-week.