Manchester United are making strides in reshaping their football department, with Southampton’s Jason Wilcox high on the list of people they want to bring in.
After the announcement last month that Manchester City’s chief football operations manager, Omar Berrada, will move to United this summer, the new minority owner, Ineos, has begun work on hiring a management team to try to transform the club after a period of decline. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos chairman, is keen to support Berrada by allowing him to make a number of appointments to key positions in the football department.
Conversations have taken place with Wilcox, the Southampton director of football, and Dan Ashworth is wanted as the sporting director. Ashworth holds a similar position at Newcastle, who will demand significant compensation. He is highly thought of by Ineos and Berrada, as is Wilcox, who worked alongside Berrada at City as academy director.
The prospect of being at the forefront of a new era at United under Ineos is a tempting proposition for both men. If Wilcox is lured back to Manchester from Southampton, he would report into the sporting director. Wilcox spent almost a decade at City and is credited with progressing the careers of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer, among others.
Ratcliffe’s 25% stake is set to be confirmed on Friday after receiving Premier League and Football Association ratification. The Ineos Sport chief executive, Jean-Claude Blanc, and director of sport, Sir Dave Brailsford, will join United’s board alongside Berrada.
