Man Utd set to ‘reach agreement’ over desired Dan Ashworth appointment | OneFootball

Manchester United have been tipped to soon reach an agreement with Newcastle United over the desired sporting director appointment of Dan Ashworth.

With new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking over control of football operations, 90min first reported of interest in hiring Ashworth in early December as part of an overhaul of the sporting structure.

News of an expected formal approach for Ashworth emerged on Tuesday morning and, within a few hours, the Daily Mail reported that an agreement with Newcastle might only be days away. The key is expected to be the size of the compensation package for the Magpies to let him go.

But Ashworth, who had built his reputation on stellar jobs performed at the FA and Brighton & Hove Albion prior to joining Newcastle in 2022, is already believed to be attracted to the project at Old Trafford and Ratcliffe’s INEOS contingent attempt to transform the fortunes of United.

Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn buy-in has been approved by the Premier League and only requires final sign-off from the FA, which is expected to come in the next few days. His influence has already been felt with the appointment of Omar Berrada as chief executive, formerly in charge of football operations at City Football Group, with right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford currently undertaking a sporting audit.

As well as streamlining and improving the recruitment process, one of United’s weaknesses in the 11 years since Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill resigned as manager and chief executive respectively in 2013, Ratcliffe is targeting a new future for Old Trafford.

The British billionaire wants the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ to become the ‘Wembley of the North’. And while he isn’t inclined to relocate the club to somewhere else in Greater Manchester, Ratcliffe is thought to be open to the idea of rebuilding a new Old Trafford on the present site.