Dan Ashworth is believed to have moved ahead of the queue to become Arsenal's new sporting director. The 53-year-old left Old Trafford last weekend, just five months after arriving at the club.
A brief statement from Man United read: "Dan Ashworth will leave his role as Manchester United's sporting director by mutual consent. We would like to thank Dan Ashworth for his work and support during this transition period for the club. We wish him all the best for the future."
Ashworth may not be out of work for long, however, with Premier League rivals Arsenal linked with a move for the 53-year-old as they search for a new sporting director.
Edu has already left his role as Arsenal's sporting director in a surprise move. Although he has not yet taken up a new job, Edu is expected to work under Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos. For Arsenal, Ashworth will become their replacement.
The move to the Emirates will see Ashworth reunited with Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick. The pair previously worked together at West Bromwich Albion and are said to have a strong relationship.
Explaining his role at both West Brom and Arsenal in 2021, Garlick said: “I am a qualified solicitor, I was in private practice for 10 years, then moved to West Brom where I was solicitor and club secretary for four years. My role then evolved into a broader role.
So I understand how to convert a transfer plan on paper into a realistic plan from a financial and legal point of view. Usually, as the transfer deals progress further, that's when my involvement increases."
If Ashworth moves to the Emirates, he could have a key role in Arsenal's upcoming transfer dealings, having overseen just one transfer window at Old Trafford, when United spent around £180m on five new faces.
This includes the double signing of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro were also signed for relatively high fees.
