by Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Jason Wilcox as technical director in a major boost to the club’s summer transfer planning.
Wilcox has moved to Old Trafford with immediate effect after United agreed a compensation package with Southampton for their sporting director in the latest shake-up of the club’s football hierarchy under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
A Premier League title winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, Wilcox will report to a new sporting director at United, who is expected to be Dan Ashworth once compensation is agreed with Newcastle.
Ashworth, who is currently on gardening leave after leaving St James’ Park in February, has full responsibility for football performance, recruitment and operations.
Wilcox’s arrival at Old Trafford will see him reunited with former Manchester City team-mate Omar Berrada, who is due to formally start work as United chief executive in July and who influenced Wilcox’s appointment.
A former academy director at City, Wilcox, 53, is well-respected within the game and will provide United with immediate on-the-ground recruitment expertise ahead of another crucial summer.
Berrada is doing some work behind the scenes while Ashworth waits in the wings but Wilcox will be free to help drive the process from within in the meantime.
Darren Fletcher relinquished the title of technical director following Wilcox’s arrival but will continue to play a role in the football leadership team working across the first team and academy.
John Murtough left as director of football earlier this month.
United will have a big summer ahead of them where a good sale is likely to be badly needed as the transfer budget could be badly hit if the club do not qualify for the Champions League. United are currently 13 points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Erik ten Hag’s future as manager remains uncertain but United are in the market for a right-back substitute, midfielder and striker. Depending on what happens in terms of payouts, they could look to bring in a wide back and a wide back.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho has apologized to Ten Hag after social media posts criticizing the manager, and the Argentina forward is set to be included in the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry .
Garnacho came on at half-time of the disappointing 2-2 final against Bournemouth last Saturday. Ten Hag said there were problems in the 19-year-old field that were “fixed” after the change.
Mark Goldbridge, host of United’s fan channel on YouTube, said Garnacho had been “thrown under the bus” and “then again it’s clear he’s afraid he’ll upset the people who work the hardest”. Garnacho ‘liked’ the messages before they were ‘disliked’ but United fans and staff had not seen them.
Ten Hag said that Garnacho has apologized for the “likes” and that the Dutchman is happy to move on from the incident.
“Alejandro is a young player, he has a lot to learn,” said Ten Hag. “He apologized and after that we move on.”
With every game for United starting since November, Garnacho is expected to be in contention to start against Coventry this weekend. Ten Hags have had a full week to prepare and Antony and Scott McTominay are set to return from injury. Harry Maguire has not trained all week but is ready to travel.
The Garnacho series is not the first time Ten Hag has fallen out with his players during his two seasons at Old Trafford, which saw Cristiano Ronaldo released after an explosive TV interview and Marcus Rashford dropped for being late to a team meeting.
Ten Hags accused Jadon Sancho of failing to live up to the club’s standards and culture, while also accusing them of not training well. Sancho has been successful during his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund and has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League but Ten Hag says his playing ability means he has no future at United.
“Of course, I follow international football and I follow the players who are on loan at other clubs,” said Ten Hag. “It was a great game, Dortmund against Atletico Madrid, a great performance from Dortmund and for Jadon it’s good news, he contributed to the result for Dortmund.
“It’s not [nothing has changed about his future]but we know that Jadon Sancho is a great football player, so that’s not a surprise for us, that’s not the question.”
Meanwhile, Ten Hag backed Casemiro after criticism of his performance in Bournemouth, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp saying the Brazilian “looked like he was playing in Soccer Aid”; the celebrity football charity match.
“I think we needed a No. 6 when I came here and last season Casemiro was fantastic,” Ten Hag added. “I don’t think he scored that many goals as well but as a No. 6, a midfielder, a strategist, he was so important to the team.
“This season he’s been struggling with a bad injury that he’s never had in his career but he always wins in his career, everywhere he’s been he’s going to be successful and I hope he brings his success and you know I think he will need games, he will be better. and I am very confident about it. He’s a fighter, and that’s why he’s also won big trophies.”
