Prior to his departure last week, John Murtough was still in charge of Manchester United’s recruiting plans, and now Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new strategy for the summer transfer window has surfaced.
After John Murtough leaves Manchester United, Matt Hargreaves will be in charge of the club’s recruiting efforts.
Having succeeded Matt Judge, who departed in 2022, Hargreaves was an integral part of United’s talks for acquisitions last summer. The severance settlement talks between United and Ashworth have not progressed, and he is now on gardening leave at Newcastle. It is not likely that Ashworth will be participating in the summer recruiting process.
Wilcox, Southampton’s director of football, may join the club sooner rather than later, according to insiders within the Championship club. Alternatively, he may go before the season ends.
Current United technical director Darren Fletcher will need to choose whether he wants to remain on with the club or seek for a new role. United are keen in keeping the former midfielder on staff, according to reports.
Although United typically finalize summer transfer plans in January, the official confirmation of Ineos’s 28% investment in the club did not come until February 20.
With his recent appointment to the United football board, Sir Dave Brailsford, formerly of Ineos, is overseeing the reorganization at the board level.
After formally resigning as football director on Tuesday, Murtough attended Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool and submitted his resignation last week. After United were denied a win by a late equalizer by Mohamed Salah, the 53-year-old went to the locker room.
The long-term status of Hargreaves is still up in the air since United want to recruit Dan Ashworth as their first sports director and Jason Wilcox as their technical director. United had already planned to replace Murtough in November, when the Manchester Evening News reported that Ashworth was their top pick to manage football operations.
After Murtough joined United in December 2013, Ineos were ready to let him remain on in a different capacity, but he decided to go.
In the Old Trafford directors’ box, Hargreaves is a constant presence during home matches, often seated among players who aren’t on the roster for the actual game.