Roy Keane is hopeful Manchester United will finally get their recruitment right if they appoint Dan Ashworth – but the Old Trafford legend warned he may not hang around too long.
United have been accused of employing a scattergun approach to signing players over the past decade, paying far too much for star names without following a clear strategy.
Man United are expected to reach an agreement with Newcastle to make Ashworth their new sporting director as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos make changes behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
Ashworth, 52, has built a strong reputation in the transfer market following stints at Brighton and Newcastle, following years of work with the Football Association.
Former United captain Keane believes his old club may finally get it right when it comes to signings.
Manchester United are expected to bring in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle as sporting director
Former United skipper Roy Keane has warned Ashworth doesn’t tend to stick around in jobs
‘The way Brighton have done it with their recruitment, and Newcastle, recruitment is key,’ Keane told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘Manchester United have had many issues over the last few years, but recruitment is probably the No 1 thing they’ve got wrong.’
Keane did add a slight concern about the potential new appointment: ‘You’re talking about Dan Ashworth coming into Manchester United and being the best for the job, but he doesn’t seem to hang around for long.
‘He was at Brighton for a few years, and he’s only been at Newcastle for a couple of seasons, so you have to look at that too.
‘There’s no doubt he’s brilliant at his job, but who is to say he won’t leave in 18 months for Real Madrid or Barcelona.’
Ashworth worked as the FA’s director of elite development between 2012 and 2018, creating the ‘England DNA’ that opened up a pathway from the youth teams to the senior side.
He took up the position of technical director at Brighton in Spring 2019, leaving three years later to become Newcastle’s sporting director.
Alexis Sanchez (left) and Paul Pogba (right) are examples of United signings who failed to deliver in recent seasons
Cristiano Ronaldo’s romantic return to United in 2021 proved to be a huge disappointment
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is shaking things up behind the scenes after his £1.3billion United buy-in
As Mail Sport reported this week, Ashworth has found his remit limited at Newcastle and would be handed greater autonomy at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe, who paid £1.3billion for a 25 per cent stake in United and control of football operations, and his aide Sir Dave Brailsford, want to re-introduce a ‘British soul’ into United’s operation.
Ashworth’s expertise is regarded as a key component of achieving this aim.
