What's happened
Manchester United have made an official approach to hire Southampton's director of football, Jason Wilcox, for a technical director role. This move is part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's restructuring of the club's footballing affairs, with Wilcox being seen as a key figure in this transformation.
Why it matters
Manchester United's pursuit of Jason Wilcox signifies a significant shift in the club's off-field operations under new ownership. The move to bring in Wilcox, along with other key personnel, highlights the club's commitment to revamping its footballing structure and competitiveness in the Premier League.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that Manchester United have made an official approach to Southampton for Jason Wilcox, aiming to build a new team off the field in the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era. The Guardian emphasizes that United are confident of securing Wilcox but Southampton is seeking greater compensation. The Independent also highlights Wilcox's successful career as a player and his influential role at Manchester City and Southampton.
How we got here
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority investment in Manchester United has led to significant changes in the club's management structure. The pursuit of Jason Wilcox, who has a strong background in football operations, is part of the club's strategy to enhance its technical and sporting departments.
More on these topics
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Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe is a Monaco-based British billionaire chemical engineer turned financier and industrialist. Ratcliffe is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Ineos chemicals group, which he founded in 1998 and of which he still owns
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Jason Malcolm Wilcox is an English former professional footballer who played as a left winger from 1989 until 2006, notably in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, where he won the title in 1995.
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Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.
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Dan Ashworth is an English former professional footballer, who began his career at Norwich City. He studied at the College of West Anglia from 1987–1989.