Premier League

THE odds on who will replace Dan Ashworth at Manchester United have been revealed – and two familiar faces are in the market.Ashworth, 53, has quit as sporting director just five months after arriving at Old Trafford.Dan Ashworth has left Man Utd following showdown talksCredit: ReutersDougie Freedman is the bookies’ favourite to replace himCredit: ReutersHe held crunch talks with CEO Omar Berrada after the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest last night and left by mutual consent, a United statement said.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly been pivotal in Ashworth’s exit and is now on the lookout for a new chief.The bookies have Crystal Palace director of football Dougie Freedman (2/1) as the frontrunner.Freedman, who came close to getting the job instead of Ashworth, has been credited for several successful Palace signings such as Marc Guehi and Michael Olise.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBonusCodeBets have Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta (4/1) and Juventus’ Cristiano Giuntoli (6/1) next on their list.United could get Lee Congerton (16/1) out of the former Leicester and Atalanta supremo’s contract at Al-Ahli.While AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini is priced the same following his four years as the Italian giants’ technical director.If Ratcliffe wants to poach another Newcastle chief like he did with Ashworth, his successor Paul Mitchell (20/1) could be an option.Most read in FootballHe was linked to the Man Utd job before Ineos’ takeover was completed last Christmas.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOdds on Ashworth’s replacement Dougie Freedman – 2/1Andrea Berta – 4/1Cristiano Giuntoli – 6/1 Lee Congerton – 12/1Paolo Maldini – 16/1Paul Mitchell – 20/1Julian Ward – 25/1Ralf Rangnick – 33/1Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 50/1via BonusCodeBets.Ex-Liverpool chief Julian Ward (25/1) is another alternative, but he is currently working for Reds owner FSG.Perhaps United will perform a shock U-turn and bring Ralf Rangnick (33/1) back after he never got to fill his planned role consultancy role due to him stepping in as interim boss.Man Utd’s Player Ratings Against Nottingham Forest The German claimed he needed to perform “open-heart surgery” to fix things at the club.But he is unlikely to put his scrubs on as he is currently Austria’s manager.But another ex-United boss who is out of work is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (50/1).His return is highly unlikely given he has never been a sporting director before.Ralf Rangnick is an outsider to seal a shock return to Old TraffordCredit: GettyOle Gunnar Solskjaer is unlikely to get the jobCredit: AFP More

MANCHESTER UNITED have released a brutal statement to confirm the departure of Dan Ashworth.The sporting director has surprisingly left the club after just five months.Dan Ashworth has left the club by mutual consentCredit: ReutersSir Jim Ratcliffe was a driving force behind his exit, with Ashworth’s time over following a meeting with Omar Berrada, seen here between Sir Dave Brailsford and AshworthCredit: GettyUnited confirmed the news in a short statement, which read: “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as Sporting Director of Manchester United by mutual agreement.”We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future.”Ashworth held showdown talks with CEO Omar Berrada after the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest last night and decided to end his time at Old Trafford.Sir Jim Ratcliffe was pivotal in pushing for a shock boardroom shake-up.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAshworth’s move from Newcastle has “not worked out” and SunSport exclusively revealed last month the United hierarchy were involved in a blame game over the transfer business in the summer.It comes after the Red Devils had difficulty getting him out of a gardening leave period he took after he departed St James’ Park.The two sides agreed on a £3million compensation deal.Ashworth then went on to spend £183m on Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui in the first transfer window under Ineos leadership.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMeanwhile, the chief was involved in the decision to eventually keep then manager Erik ten Hag and offer him a new contract.But just 14 matches later, they made a U-turn and sacked him. Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to replace Old Trafford with a ‘Wembley of the North’Before his arrival in Manchester, Ratcliffe hailed Ashworth as “clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world”.But the owner claimed yesterday that United are still far behind where they need to be in terms of a recruitment structure.Ratcliffe said: “We must have the best recruitment in the world. Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. “It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here.“There’s an immense amount of useful data that we can get from data analysis and we’re in the ‘very poor’ bracket with data analysis here.”These things don’t happen overnight. You can’t just flick a light switch and sort out recruitment. “It’s all about people and we need to find the right people.”Who is Dan Ashworth?DAN ASHWORTH is a true footballing man who has progressed through the game’s ranks all the way from player to club director.He never made it to the top as a player, instead featuring for a number of non-league sides and in the US.After hanging up his boots he quickly moved into the backroom, landing his first job at Peterborough.His big break came at West Brom, before he moved on to the Three Lions job where he was instrumental in creating ‘England’s DNA’.Two roles with Premier League clubs followed before Man Utd swooped in the summer.So what’s next for Ashworth?READ HIS FULL STORY HERE: More

DAN ASHWORTH has left Manchester United following showdown talks last night.The sporting director’s shock exit comes after just five months at Old Trafford. Dan Ashworth has left Man Utd after just five monthsCredit: PASir Jim Ratcliffe has played a huge role in the boardroom shake-upCredit: AlamyAshworth was involved in the club’s summer transfer business and the decision to keep – and then sack – Erik ten HagCredit: GettySunSport exclusively revealed three weeks ago how United’s new hierarchy were locked in a blame game over their summer business.Ashworth joined the club in July following a lengthy gardening leave period after he quit Newcastle.The 53-year-old was appointed by Man Utd to oversee “performance, recruitment and operations”, with the Red Devils agreeing to pay £3million in compensation to the Toon.But following showdown talks with CEO Omar Berrada after the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest last night, Ashworth quit by mutual consent.READ MORE ON MAN UTDA club statement read: “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as Sporting Director of Manchester United by mutual agreement.”We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future.”The Athletic claims Sir Jim Ratcliffe was pivotal in the call to part ways.Ashworth played a huge role in United’s £183million summer spending spree during the first transfer window under Ineos leadership.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe club signed Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui. Ashworth was also involved in the decision to initially keep Erik ten Hag and hand him a new contract, only to for him to be sacked just 14 games later.Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to replace Old Trafford with a ‘Wembley of the North’The former FA chief, who was credited with creating the “England DNA”, was quoted in the statements confirming every signing.But we did not hear from him on Ten Hag’s axing or on the appointment of Ruben Amorim. Ashworth’s departure comes as a huge shock to many, with one fan saying: “Man Utd waited longer to get Ashworth out of Newcastle than he has lasted in the job. Mad.”Another added: “Utterly embarrassing and the amount of time and money to secure him. The direction of the club is meant to be based on the structure and at this moment that feels insecure. Shambles.”But others defended the decision, commenting: “If someone isn’t working, then get rid. No point keeping someone if its not working.”Ratcliffe previously hailed Ashworth as “clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world”.But he was apparently not a good “fit”, according to the Mail. But yesterday he suggested United are still miles behind where they need to be when it comes to transfers.United chiefs have been at war over their summer spending spreeCredit: GettyRatcliffe said: “We’ve not been good enough at recruitment, you probably agree with that. Everybody would agree with that.”And until we’re as good as anyone in the world, then it’s not good enough for Manchester United.”We must have the best recruitment in the world. Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here.“There’s an immense amount of useful data that we can get from data analysis and we’re in the ‘very poor’ bracket with data analysis here.”These things don’t happen overnight. You can’t just flick a light switch and sort out recruitment. It’s all about people and we need to find the right people.”Who is Dan Ashworth?DAN ASHWORTH is a true footballing man who has progressed through the game’s ranks all the way from player to club director.He never made it to the top as a player, instead featuring for a number of non-league sides and in the US.After hanging up his boots he quickly moved into the backroom, landing his first job at Peterborough.His big break came at West Brom, before he moved on to the Three Lions job where he was instrumental in creating ‘England’s DNA’.Two roles with Premier League clubs followed before Man Utd swooped in the summer.So what’s next for Ashworth?READ HIS FULL STORY HERE:As for Amorim, he said in his first press conference after joining last month that he wants the final say on transfers.He explained: “Everybody has to work together and for that we have to improve the process of recruitment, the data, the profile of players we want.”But I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach. I know how to play, so I think it’s all together but the final word should be the manager.”Not just because it’s your right but your responsibility. Because, in the end, the result is to me, so I think it’s all together to improve the process of recruitment.”I have a great responsibility when we choose players because this is something that should be done this way. I’m the manager, the head coach, so I have to choose the players.”When Ashworth’s Newcastle exit and United arrival was finally secured, he said: “This remains one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but that is not our measure of success; the focus is on getting back to being among the best on the pitch. “It won’t happen overnight, but, together with Omar and his new leadership team, we will not rest until we have achieved it.“Although I grew up in Norfolk, I’ve always had a strong attachment with Manchester because my mum and dad were born in Middleton and my grandparents lived their whole lives there.READ MORE SUN STORIES“When I visited as a boy, my dad would take me to games across Greater Manchester and I remember the thrill of my first visit to Old Trafford in the late 1970s, watching the likes of Lou Macari, Jimmy Nicholl and Arthur Albiston.“I can’t claim to have been a partisan United fan – my dad enjoyed watching all the local teams – but I remember the special buzz that always seemed to surround games at Old Trafford, and it’s something I have experienced many times since during my career in football.”United’s summer transfer signingsArrivals:Leny Yoro (Lille) – £52mManuel Ugarte (PSG) – £50mMatthijs De Ligt (Bayern) – £43mJoshua Zirkzee (Bologna) – £36.5mNoussair Mazraoui (Bayern) – £16mSekou Kone (Guidars) – £1m More