9 months ago
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Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc disagreed on Manchester United’s move for Dan Ashworth.
The former Brighton technical director has informed Newcastle United that he wants to leave the club after holding talks with the Red Devils.
The Magpies are furious, and have placed Ashworth on gardening leave as well as blocking him from their internal database.
Newcastle will demand significant compensation in order to release Ashworth from his contract, but the Red Devils are prepared for him to sit it out – which could mean he joins in 2026.
Either way, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS team will likely land their man as their revolution at Old Trafford continues at pace.
Omar Berrada will join from Manchester City as the club’s new CEO and Ashworth will be the next significant hire as the club’s first ever sporting director.
But it’s emerged that there was a disagreement between two dominant figures at INEOS over the approach, according to the Independent.
Blanc and Brailsford have been charged by Ratcliffe to lead the appointments at Old Trafford, with both figures taking a place on the club’s board.
Brailsford has openly admitted his expertise is not in football, and he instead adopts a data-driven approach that he feels crosses over all sports.
That saw the former Team Sky principal favour a move for ex-Liverpool director Julian Ward, who was instrumental in building Jurgen Klopp’s title-winning team of 2020.
But Brailsford conceded to Blanc, who made it clear from the start that his preferred choice was Ashworth.
The former England director is a popular choice with INEOS, and Brailsford was not against his hire as such.
Once Ashworth’s move is appointed, United will look to appoint a head of recruitment that will report into the 52-year-old.
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