Manchester United’s pre-season plans are kicking up a gear. And we are not merely referring to those clashes with Rangers and Rosenborg, now pencilled in on the summer calendar.
Ineos, planning a big splash during their first window in control of the Premier League giants, will have Omar Berrada leading operations when his gardening leave comes to an end. There remains some hope that Dan Ashworth will have been officially confirmed at Manchester United in time for transfer season too.
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are holding out for £20 million. A demand Sir Jim Ratcliffe has labelled ‘a bit silly’, with some justification. Man United, however, are ‘optimistic’ that a compensation fee can finally be agreed in the region of half that fee.
Discussions with Southampton over Jason Wilcox, meanwhile, are proving similarly tricky.
Manchester United hope to hire Jason Wilcox
Wilcox resigned from his post at St Mary’s on Monday. Man United have reportedly offered Southampton a fee which amounts to one year of his salary – a price they believe actives an exit clause in Wilcox’s deal.
The Saints, however, are ‘disputing the existence’ of such a clause, per Sky Sports, meaning a man who worked alongside Berrada at Man City could also find himself stuck in an Ashworth-like state of limbo.
Southampton manager Russell Martin could certainly have done without the speculation surrounding the club’s highly-rated director of football operations. Martin, speaking to BBC Radio Solent, admitted during his Friday press conference that he believes the 53-year-old is ‘likely’ to get his move to Old Trafford.
“Being brutally honest, the one person this affects the most is me,” Martin sighs. “There is still lots going on that hasn’t been clarified yet and legally.
“If he ends up going, which if we’re being honest looks likely at this point, then he goes with nothing but good wishes from us all.
“He has played such a huge part in changing the culture of this club and the feeling around the training ground. He’s enabled us to be the leaders that we want to be.”
Southampton chief won’t be joining Liverpool
Wilcox, who worked with United outcast Jadon Sancho at the Etihad and also has connections with the Red Devils-linked Tosin Adarabioyo, is expected to take up a role alongside Ashworth in a new-look backroom team overflowing with bonafide footballing nous.
Liverpool have also been linked with the former England international.
According to Fabrizio Romano, however, Man United are the only club Wilcox is interested in leaving Southampton for.
“No negotiations or talks taking place between Jason Wilcox and Liverpool,” Romano writes on X. “Wilcox has agreed to join Manchester United as new technical director, ready to be part of INEOS project.
“It’s just about ‘when’. No talks planned with other clubs.”