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