Roy Keane is hopeful Manchester United will finally get their recruitment right if they appoint Dan Ashworth, but the Old Trafford legend has warned he may not stay for long.
United have been accused of employing a scattershot approach to signing players over the past decade, paying too much for star names without following a clear strategy.
Man United are expected to agree a deal with Newcastle to make Ashworth their new sporting director as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos make changes behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
Ashworth, 52, has built a solid reputation in the transfer market after spells at Brighton and Newcastle, following years of work with the Football Association.
Former United captain Keane believes his former club could finally get it right when it comes to signings.
Manchester United expected to hire Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth as sporting director
Former United captain Roy Keane warned that Ashworth does not tend to stay in his job
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“The way Brighton have done it with their recruitment, and Newcastle, recruitment is key,” Keane told the Stay with the football podcastbrought to you by sky bet.
“Manchester United have had a lot of problems in recent years, but recruitment is probably the first mistake they have made wrong.”
Keane added a slight concern about the possible new appointment: “You’re talking about Dan Ashworth coming to Manchester United and being the best for the job, but he doesn’t seem to be staying for long.”
“He was at Brighton for a few years and he’s only been at Newcastle for a couple of seasons, so you have to take that into account as well.
“There is no doubt that he is brilliant at his job, but who is to say that he will not leave in 18 months for Real Madrid or Barcelona.”
Ashworth worked as the FA’s elite development director between 2012 and 2018, creating the ‘England DNA’ that paved a pathway from youth teams to the senior team.
He took over as technical director at Brighton in the spring of 2019, leaving three years later to become sporting director at Newcastle.
Alexis Sánchez (left) and Paul Pogba (right) are examples of United signings who failed to deliver in recent seasons.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is changing things behind the scenes after his £1.3bn United purchase
As Mail Sport reported this week, Ashworth found his competition limited at Newcastle and would be given greater autonomy at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe, who paid £1.3bn for a 25 per cent stake in United and control of football operations, and his assistant Sir Dave Brailsford, want to reintroduce a “British soul” to United’s operations.
Ashworth’s expertise is seen as a key component in achieving this goal.
Roy Keane spoke on the Stick to Football podcast, presented by sky bet