Dan Ashworth could join Premier League rivals after Manchester United exit, he will find out in March

Dan Ashworth is yet to return to football since leaving Manchester United but he remains in contention for a major Premier League job.

The first year of the Ineos experience has not exactly sparked confidence from Manchester United fans.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to make cuts across the club with United announcing further redundancies earlier this week.

United’s finances don’t look good right now but the product on the pitch isn’t much better with Ruben Amorim sitting 14th in the Premier League table.

Ineos are taking the brunt of frustration right now though and the redundancies through the club don’t look great when you consider some of the money wasted already.

Erik ten Hag’s backing and sacking springs to mind, but so does the very brief stint of Dan Ashworith as sporting director.

Photo by Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Dan Ashworth set for Arsenal news in March

United headhunted Ashworth, almost immediately identifying him as the man to take the sporting director role at Old Trafford.

Ashworth joined United from Newcastle over the summer and was supposed to drive United forward on and off the pitch.

More United News

Instead, Ashworth left United in December with fans left rocked by his abrupt departure, asking questions about the direction of the Ineos project.

Ashworth has linked up with Warwickshire County Cricket Club in an advisory role but could yet return to football very soon.

The Athletic claim that Ashworth is one name that Arsenal have either discussed internally or already spoken to about replacing Edu at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal plan to appoint a new sporting director in March and Ashworth is one of a number of high-profile candidates.

Andrea Berta, Roberto Olabe and Thiago Scuro are also in the mix but Ashworth has a personal connection which could see him land the job.

Dan Ashworth could strike Arsenal reunion

Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick will play a key role in deciding the club’s next sporting director, though Mikel Arteta will no doubt be involved to some extent too.

Garlick has a strong connection to Ashworth having worked as West Bromwich Albion’s legal director-secretary during Ashworth’s time as sporting director.

Garlick stepped up to replace Ashworth in 2013 but the pair could now reunite in North London.

That would be a huge move for Ashworth and seeing him join a team at the top end of the Premier League would no doubt lead to more questions about his United exit.

United quickly decided that Ashworth wasn’t the right man despite chasing him so strongly, and may now see him join a Premier League rival ahead of the summer transfer window.

Click here to read article