December 10th 2024.
It was an unexpected turn of events at Manchester United over the weekend as Dan Ashworth, the club's first-ever sporting director, announced his departure. According to reports, Arsenal is now eyeing a move for the 53-year-old following his surprise exit from Old Trafford.
The news of Ashworth's departure was confirmed by United on Sunday, stating that it was a mutual agreement. This comes just five months after Ashworth was appointed to the role. It is believed that Ashworth had been involved in several disputes with United's co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, as well as other members of the club's hierarchy.
One of the main disagreements that led to Ashworth's departure was the decision to extend Erik ten Hag's contract in the summer. There were also differences in opinions when it came to Ashworth's list of replacements for the Dutchman, which included the likes of Gareth Southgate, Thomas Frank, and Marco Silva.
Meanwhile, Arsenal has been in search of a replacement for Edu, who resigned as the club's sporting director last month. As per ESPN, Ashworth's sudden availability has caught the attention of the Gunners, who have now added him to their shortlist. It is reported that Arsenal's managing director, Richard Garlick, who is leading the search for Edu's successor, had a close working relationship with Ashworth during their time together at West Brom.
Ashworth had left West Brom in 2012 to join the Football Association as the director of elite development. After six successful years with the FA, he then made the move to Brighton as their sporting director. However, it was a short stint as he joined Newcastle United in February 2022. It took months of negotiations, but United eventually paid around £5 million in compensation to Newcastle to secure Ashworth's services earlier this year.
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