Manchester United have left fans stunned after parting ways with Dan Ashworth mere months after appointing whims sporting director.
Manchester United supporters are still reeling from Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
Ruben Amorim watched on as his United side floundered at Old Trafford, slumping to a second defeat in a matter of days.
Rio Ferdinand has slammed United’s defeat but few could have expected the off-field drama from Sunday morning.
United have confirmed Dan Ashworth’s departure, parting ways after just a matter of months at Old Trafford.
United paid compensation to lure Ashworth away from Newcastle United over the summer but Ashworth’s time as sporting director is already over.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Manchester United poses for a photo as Dan Ashworth, Sporting director of Manchester United looks on prior to the Premi...
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Sir Jim Ratcliffe concern at Manchester United
This is a real stunner with Ashworth viewed as a ‘best-in-class’ appointment upon his arrival.
Ashworth had built up a reputation as one of the top operators in the game but has remarkably moved on only weeks after Ruben Amorim’s appointment.
MORE UNITED STORIES
Ashworth had reservations about appointing Amorim, which may well have played a role in his departure.
Fabrizio Romano now adds that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been left angry with United’s summer transfer business.
Romnao claims that Ratcliffe is ‘not happy at all’ with how United attempted to bolster the squad over the summer.
🚨❗️ Dan Ashworth left his role at Manchester United after 5 months, it’s over with the sporting director as revealed by @TheAthleticFC.
Tense situation with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, not happy at all with last summer strategy.
United spent around £3m to get Ashworth from Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/klfc9sQ5jb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 8, 2024
View Tweet
United spent around £180million on new signings over the summer as Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee arrived.
Mazraoui has impressed Amorim but he is arguably the only shining light of those five first-team additions.
Yoro is only just back from injury, Ugarte has yet to make an impact, De Ligt has blown hot and cold and Zirkzee has struggled for large spells.
Ratcliffe seemingly hasn’t seen value for money yet and he will be looking for better with Ashworth now gone.
Ratcliffe anger could scupper Sporting raids
It’s unclear just what has angered Ratcliffe so much but perhaps signing players for Erik ten Hag only to sack him a few months later hasn’t helped.
Ten Hag worked with Mazraoui and De Ligt at Ajax and will have certainly been well aware of fellow Dutchman Zirkzee.
Ratcliffe may not want to invest in manager picks moving forward and that could put paid to any plans on raiding Sporting.
Amorim has been linked with a host of Sporting players ever since arriving at Old Trafford.
Defender Ousmane Diomande fancies a move to United, Francisco Trincao is a target and wonderkid Geovany Quenda is being backed for United.
United signed a host of former Ten Hag players both before and during the Ineos era, but Ratcliffe may look to change up United’s approach moving forward.
Related Posts