Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Final 2025
There has been changes to Jim Ratcliffe’s football operations team (Picture: Getty Images)
Jason Wilcox has been promoted to Manchester United’s director of football, as Dave Brailsford steps aside from his day-to-day role at the club.
Wilcox had held the role of technical director since arriving from Southampton in April 2024.
The three-cap England international is now alongside chief executive Omar Berrada in leading the football operations at Old Trafford.
Brailsford has been a key figure in Jim Ratcliffe’s team since the billionaire bought a minority stake in Manchester United in December 2023.
The 61-year-old remains on the board at Old Trafford and will still work in an advisory role, but his focus will now be on other INEOS endeavours.
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His attention will now turn to cycling team INEOS Grenadiers and Ligue 1 club Nice, from his base in Monaco.
Wilcox had already stepped into the role of sporting director after the dismissal of Dan Ashworth in December.
Manchester United Travel to Istanbul for UEFA Europa League
Jason Wilcox is the new director of football at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)
Ratcliffe previously talked up Wilcox’s ability to spot talent, while also encouraging an increased use of data to establish transfer targets at Manchester United.
‘Jason, for me, is a guy at the coal face. He ran the academy at Manchester City. Txiki Begiristain, I know, thought Jason had the best eyes in the club,’ Ratcliffe told The Times.
‘Jason knows what’s working, what’s not working in terms of how Ruben’s playing, his system, which players he’s picking, which players we are going to buy in the future. And Jason’s got views on all of those things. And when I listen to Jason speak, I get what he’s saying.
‘But what he can’t do is watch every match. And that’s what the computer does. The computer can watch every match that every player has played in every league for every year they’ve ever played football. So you have to marry the two pieces of data and then it tells you something. And that’s what Brighton and Brentford have done.’
‘And also it’s then much easier to spot the younger talent because the computer does that. Jason can tell you every good 21-year-old, but not every good 16-year-old.’
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Final 2025
Dave Brailsford will be less visible at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)
There is plenty of work for the Manchester United hierarchy to do this summer in a huge transfer window for the club.
After a disastrous season which saw the Red Devils finish 15th and fail to win any silverware, a significant revamp of the squad is required.
Matheus Cunha has already been signed from Wolves and now Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo is being targeted.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Brentford FC - Premier League
Bryan Mbeumo scored 20 Premier League goals last season (Picture: Getty Images)
It’s understood United began talks with Brentford to discuss a move for Mbeumo last week, with the Cameroon international said to be eager to push through a switch to Old Trafford.
According to The Athletic, United’s opening offer of £45m – plus £10m in add-ons – is some way short of the fee Brentford are demanding for their top goalscorer.
It’s understood the Bees are holding out for a sum closer to £60m from United and discussions are ongoing between the two clubs.
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