The 52-year-old, who is currently Newcastle United’s sporting director, has allegedly been identified by Sir Jim Ratcliffe as Man United’s leading target to fill the position in his new-look football department at Old Trafford.
A recent report claimed that the Red Devils are planning a formal approach for Ashworth, who works closely with Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe in identifying transfer targets as part of his current role.
According to Football Insider, Ashworth could be handed a budget of £450m to work with at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils looking to become a dominant force in English and European football once again.
Man United head coach Erik ten Hag was asked about the potential arrival of a sporting director during his press conference on Thursday to preview Sunday’s game against Luton Town.
“I think it’s very important that you are [on] one page. About football philosophy, about football tactics, about the profiles of players you need in a team. It’s very important to have a very good communication, so that you get the right players,” he said.
“Because it’s one of the most important factors to develop a good team, that you have the right players, with the right players and the right characters. So, that means you have to do a lot of work so you get aligned. It’s a long process to get the right players in.
“I worked in several situations where sometimes I was alone in charge, sometimes I had the cooperation. So, I’ve dealt with several situations
“But I think it’s so specific, especially on the top, also so intense with the number of games, that you need people around you who are on the same page, are working on the same targets, to achieve the high ambitions.
“I’m here and I know in what construction I am working. And I’m very happy in this construction. So, I don’t know anything about changes, and I talk with the new or foreseen sporting organisation but it’s not up to me.
“I’m working and that is my focus point at this moment, on this team and we plan in this construction, in this organisation, for the future. So, we have a look. We closed the [transfer] window in January, we are working on the plans for the summer.”
Ashworth became West Bromwich Albion’s sporting and technical director in 2007, before moving to the Football Association in 2012 as director of elite development.
Seven years later, he became technical director at Brighton & Hove Albion, before moving to Newcastle in early 2022 to become sporting director at St James’ Park, but the highly-rated figure could now be set for another high-profile move.
