Manchester United appear to be on the verge of landing another major appointment with the Ineos era starting to take shape ahead of the summer.
Ineos want to revolutionise United and have already made one huge move in recent months.
Manchester City’s Omar Berrada is coming in as United’s new CEO and more moves are expected to follow.
United are still pushing to try and bring in Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth as the club’s new sporting director.
Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman is a target for a recruitment role too with Ineos leaving no stone unturned in their quest to get the club back on track.
Whilst the progress of deals for Ashworth and Freedman is unclear, United now appear to be on the verge of securing one new appointment…
Jason Wilcox resigns
Southampton’s Jason Wilcox has become a key target in recent weeks.
United first targeted Wilcox in February, hoping to lure him to Old Trafford in a reunion with his former Manchester City college Berrada.
A deal now seems to be close as Fabrizio Romano reports that Wilcox has resigned from his position as Southampton’s director of football.
Romano claims that Southampton refused to accept a fee from United for Wilcox, so he has now resigned to force through a move.
It’s added that Wilcox will become United’s new technical director once the move goes through.
Sky Sports claim that United have made an offer for Wilcox which amounts to one year of his salary – a price United believe activates an exit clause in Wilcox’s deal.
Southampton are allegedly ‘disputing the existence of the clause’ and that may well be why Romano now believes that Wilcox has resigned from his post.
The Daily Mail add United have now accelerated a move for Wilcox out of a belief that Ashworth won’t be joining before the summer.
Negotiations with Newcastle have been tough and with Ashworth seemingly more difficult to land, United have focused on Wilcox instead.
Wilcox background
Some may remember Wilcox from his playing days as he had a prominent Premier League career with Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United.
Wilcox earned three England caps too, primarily featuring as a winger in his playing days.
Wilcox joined Manchester City in 2012, becoming an academy coach before stepping up to Under-18 head coach.
City were so impressed with Wilcox that they handed him the role of academy director, overseeing the development of many young players.
Southampton managed to lure Wilcox away last summer, appointing him as their director of football.
Wilcox had to sell a handful of players, including the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia, but his work has contributed to Southampton being in contention for promotion.
Now seemingly ready to take on a key role in the Ineos operation, Wilcox could be returning to Manchester after just one year away.