Soon-to-be Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has met with Graham Potter, according to a new report.
Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave at current side Newcastle as the two clubs struggle to agree on a fee for his services, with the Red Devils having to either negotiate an enhanced compensation fee to release him early or meet the terms of his contract and wait for his gardening leave to expire.
Mail Sport understands the period of gardening leave written into the sporting director’s current contract would take him towards the January transfer window of 2026.
It is thought Man United are willing to be patient and wait for Ashworth if a compromise cannot be reached, and that would mean Newcastle paying his wages for the duration of his gardening leave, though it is expected that a fee of around £20million will be agreed.
And it appears Ashworth has already begun work at United. According to The Sun, the 52-year-old former school teacher reportedly met former Brighton boss Potter last weekend.
There has been major doubt over the future of Erik ten Hag’s position as manager of Manchester United following the investment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which has seen the British billionaire take over the running of all football activities at the club.
Ratcliffe has refused to back the Dutchman publicly, a move that Ten Hag has insisted has not bothered him despite United’s struggles both on and off the field this season.
Pundits and fans have urged Ratcliffe to make an early call on if Ten Hag will be the man to take the club forward under his stewardship, but it is possible a call won’t be made until the end of the season.
Potter, whose last job was with Chelsea until he was sacked in April 2023, is the favourite to take over at Old Trafford should the club look to head in a new direction.
And he is a man Ashworth knows well, with the pair having worked together at Brighton previously.
It is suggested that Ratcliffe is a big fan of the 48-year-old and has tried to appoint him at Nice – the club he also owns – manager in the past.
Potter is said to have received a number of offers to return to management since leaving Stamford Bridge but is waiting for the right move. He has been seen at various grounds in the last few weeks.
Ratcliffe is looking to re-build the football department at Old Trafford having slammed the culture at the club, and is already re-building off-the-field with the appointment of CEO Omar Berrada, who will join from Manchester City.
He is determined to sign Ashworth – branding Newcastle’s move to place him on gardening leave ‘absurd’ – and will potentially appoint his own manager in the summer.
Other names believed to be considered should the Red Devils be rid of Ten Hag are Simone Inzaghi, Ruben Amorim and Thomas Tuchel.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
