Latest on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Man Utd investment & Dan Ashworth interest
Our reporter Michael Plant provides an update on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's purchase of partial stake in Manchester United, plus the club's hopes of recruiting Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox.
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00:00 As always with Manchester United, there's a lot of news surrounding what's happening on the football pitch
00:04 but in addition a lot of talk about what's going on away from the pitch and
00:09 Over the last couple of days a lot of news surrounding Ineos and the potential move for a new sporting director
00:15 So I just wanted to bring a little update on that. So in terms of Ineos and their
00:19 takeover or Sir Jim Radcliffe's
00:22 purchase of a partial share in the club or a minority investment in the club that could be confirmed officially next week because
00:30 The Premier League have given it the okay, the FA have given it the okay
00:34 And it's not mainly just a case of Sir Jim Radcliffe confirming and purchasing those class A shares
00:40 I won't go into too much detail about exactly what those class A shares are
00:43 a little bit because it's partly quite confusing and a little bit because it's the type of boring detail that people don't really care about
00:50 But in essence essentially that is expected United are sorry Radcliffe is expected to purchase
00:55 25% of United's class A shares they are
00:59 The less important shares he's already purchased class B shares off the glaciers
01:04 and but this will essentially be the final major act in terms of
01:09 Radcliffe becoming a minority owner and United as I say could be confirmed next week
01:14 So plenty of action and plenty of news we're expecting over the next seven days or so at United but away from that
01:21 United have turned their attention to a new sporting director and the man they want is Dan Ashworth
01:27 No official approach yet from Manchester United and any kind of thought that a 10 million pound
01:33 Figure has been banded about United are not going to pay that sort of money for Ashworth
01:38 Although they are I mean they are willing to wait to buy their time and to pay
01:44 You know a certain fee for brushwork, but it's not gonna go up towards 10 million pound
01:48 United have identified him as the primary target. They want to bring him in to the any or structure and
01:54 As I say no official offer yet, but he wants to join United United want him to join and you suspect
02:02 It's only really gonna be a matter of time until you know to make an approach and some of the negotiations
02:06 Get wrapped up and get concluded
02:08 He would come into the system and fit under Omar Barada who of course has agreed to become the club's new CEO
02:15 Joining from Manchester City. So of course he would come under Radcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford of Ineos and then Ashworth would come in beneath
02:24 Barada Barada has already as we know
02:27 Told City of his plans to leave the club. He's currently actually on gardening leave at the moment
02:33 So not currently working for City. We're expecting him to join and take up his role at United in the summer in the meantime
02:40 obviously he has spoken quite extensively to any us both parties are aware of you know, the thoughts and the
02:46 Aspirations of the other I suppose they've both been speaking
02:50 In terms of where the club can improve on and off the pitch and starting to devise plans
02:55 Probably that will start in the summer really from Barada's perspective
03:00 And then in terms of Ashworth, I mean I've already mentioned but there's also a potential addition in Jason Wilcox
03:06 The former Leeds United midfielder. He like Barada was at Manchester City and and he knows
03:12 Barada pretty well Wilcox and I think that is a factor in United potentially being interested in bringing him in again like Newcastle
03:19 No official offer yet from United in terms of Southampton
03:22 They were a little bit I think taking a back when news broke that United were interested in bringing Wilcox in
03:27 He's certainly a name that United are interested in I wouldn't say that he is
03:32 You know
03:36 Ashworth is a someone that they really really want to bring in
03:39 I think that Wilcox is something they want to bring in as well
03:41 Maybe not quite as strong as the interest in Ashworth at the moment, but United expecting to make moves in that regard
03:48 probably soon in terms of
03:51 Approaching Southampton and talking to them, but I think it'll be Ashworth
03:54 It'll be Ra that'll be the more pressing concern at the moment and then in terms of United and the structure of
03:59 Where that leaves them?
04:01 I mean John Murtaugh has been carrying out that role as director of football for last couple of years now
04:06 where would that leave him if
04:08 Ashworth were to come in. Well, there's no decision as such made on his future at the moment
04:13 He could still play a role in the NEL system at United
04:16 But for now, there's no decision made we're expecting him that if and when Ashworth is appointed that he will talk to
04:24 Murtaugh about his role in the city and what he can fit in with United and what sort of role he could have but
04:30 Listen, obviously the role that Ashworth would potentially come in and do would be a very similar role to the role that Murtaugh is doing
04:37 Now so be difficult to know exactly where he would fit in but but not impossible certainly that he remains at Manchester United
04:44 But listen, there's a lot going on with United. They're certainly starting to build up towards them
04:50 Towards the future under Ineos making plans and as I say Ashworth is very much a central figure in that
04:56 You know willing to pay a fee willing to wait their time
04:59 But at the same time they want this wrapped up as quickly as possible
05:02 She's gonna be a really interesting couple of weeks surrounding Manchester United