Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox have been lined up to lead Manchester United’s transfer market strategy this summer because Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes Dan Ashworth’s arrival as the sporting director is still a while away.
Ashworth has agreed to join from Newcastle to lead the football department but compensation is yet to be determined and it may be some months before he can replace John Murtough, who will leave United by the end of the week.
Berrada, the incoming chief executive, is on gardening leave from Manchester City but is set to start no later than the start of the close season. United have approached Southampton to hire Wilcox as technical director and Ratcliffe also expects him to be in place for the summer. Berrada, formerly City’s chief operating officer, worked with Wilcox when the latter was academy director at City.
Although Darren Fletcher, the technical director, is to be replaced by Wilcox, Ratcliffe wants the Scot to remain and a new role will be created for him if he agrees to stay.
Murtough became United’s first football director in 2021 and oversaw the hiring of Erik ten Hag, and additions to the squad that include Casemiro, Rasmus Højlund, Antony, André Onana and Mason Mount.
Ratcliffe offered Murtough the club’s gratitude. “We want to thank John for his loyal service over many years, and for his support and integrity during this period of transition,” he said. “He leaves with our best wishes for the future.”
Joel Glazer, United’s co-chairman, said: “After 11 years of tireless work for the club, John has mutually agreed with us that now is the right time to step aside and allow the new football leadership structure to be put in place. He will always be welcome back at Manchester United as a friend of the club.”
It is understood that until Ashworth joins, Andy O’Boyle, the deputy football director, Matt Hargreaves, the director of player negotiations, David Harrison, director of football operations and Nick Cox, the academy director, will fill any gaps in the football department, with Ratcliffe’s key lieutenant, Sir Dave Brailsford, overseeing the reorganisation.
