The full story of why Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted Dan Ashworth out of Man United – and why he could now end up at Arsenal: THE SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN

Dan Ashworth’s exit as Manchester United sporting director came amid concerns from his bosses that he lacked a clear vision for the club’s head coach position.

After an arduous struggle to release Ashworth from his role at Newcastle, United confirmed the highly rated administrator left the club on Sunday just five months into his tenure.

United have stayed silent in public on the reasons behind Ashworth’s sudden departure but sources with knowledge of the situation have told Mail Sport that what was viewed as Ashworth’s indecision, particularly with regards a definitive plan regarding previous manager Erik ten Hag’s future and the Dutchman’s potential successor, did not impress Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

It is claimed that Ashworth lacked conviction on who the club should target in the event of Ten Hag leaving, though he is understood to have tentatively recommended a move for former Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe. Ruben Amorim was eventually recruited from Sporting Lisbon following Ten Hag’s sacking.

I have also been told that there was a feeling that Ashworth delegated too often, though others insist that was part of his plan to promote a culture of inclusivity, in a position in which he was expected to steer the strategic and operational and direction of the club.

Technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada will take on the bulk of Ashworth’s responsibilities as the club weigh up whether to replace Ashworth directly.

Despite his early exit at Old Trafford, Ashworth’s reputation remains strong and he is likely to have no shortage of options moving forward.

Recent links to the sporting director vacancy at Arsenal stem from his long standing relationship with the Gunners’ managing director Richard Garlick.

The pair worked together at West Brom and have remained close while their careers have taken different paths.

Garlick’s powerbase at Arsenal has grown in recent weeks following the departure of the club’s previous sporting director Edu and he will have an influential role in deciding who replaces the Brazilian, who is set to take a global position with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ group of clubs.

Garlick’s sway would certainly work in Ashworth’s favour should he have designs on a senior position at the Emirates.

As things stand, one of Ashworth’s main competitors in the race to replace Edu is Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe, who is leaving the Spanish club at the end of the season.

Olabe is believed to be manager Mikel Arteta’s preference for the position.

Olabe and Arteta already have an existing relationship – Olabe signed the current Arsenal boss as player in 2004 during his spell as Real Sociedad manager.

No progress made on Partey extension

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey’s future is uncertain with no significant progress made on a new contract – and just 20 days until he can sign a deal elsewhere.

The Ghana international has been one of the club’s players’ of the season so far, staying injury free to play a key role in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Partey’s five-year deal, signed when he joined for £45million from Atletico Madrid in 2020, expires in the summer – and as such he can sign a pre-contract with overseas clubs from January 1.

The fact Arsenal are in the market to sign a new central midfielder, most likely in the summer, and have begun identifying targets indicates that Partey could leave the club at the end of the season – though Jorginho’s deal is also due to expire in July.

Partey will turn 32 before next season, and sources have indicated there is no major urgency at Arsenal to nail down Partey’s future despite his re-emergence this season.

He is one of the club’s biggest earners with a pay package worth around £200,000 per week, but his career in north London has been beset by injuries.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are hoping key defender Gabriel Magalhaes will be fit to return against Everton on Saturday.

Gabriel has missed Arsenal’s last three games with a hamstring injury but is close to returning, despite not being risked in the 3-0 win over Monaco on Wednesday night.

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Potter was Hammers’ top choice

Graham Potter was the leading contender to replace West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui this week if the London Stadium side had lost to Wolves.

It is highly likely that Lopetegui would have lost his job had the Hammers lost to relegation threatened Wolves on Monday night, and Potter was the prime candidate to step in.

Fortunately for Lopetegui, goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen gave the Hammers a 2-1 win over Gary O’Neil’s team – a result that bought the under-fire 57-year-old time.

However, another bad result against Bournemouth on Monday night will see Lopetegui back under pressure with Potter likely to remain in contention for the position if West Ham’s owners decide to change.

Meanwhile, West Ham defender Luizao is attracting interest from Brazilian side Internacional heading into the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old arrived in east London from Sao Paulo in January 2023 but is yet to make a single senior appearance for the Hammers and is currently not involved with the first-team.

And Internacional are open to taking Luizao on either a permanent or loan deal.

Serafino’s unlikely Bromley broker

Filipe Morais, best remembered for scoring in Bradford’s FA Cup giant-killing of Chelsea in 2015, helped broker American businessman Anthony Serafino’s buy-in at League Two side Bromley this week.

Young entrepreneur Serafino, 32, has bought a minority stake in the south London club and Mail Sport can reveal the transaction was facilitated by former Portugal Under 21 international Morais, through company M Sports Group.

Morais is understood to have worked on behalf of majority shareholder Robin Stanton-Gleaves.

The 39-year-old former winger started his career at Chelsea and played in Jose Mourinho’s first ever game in charge of the club, a pre-season friendly against Oxford in July 2004.

The attacker went on to play for 13 different clubs in England and Scotland – making over 400 career appearances and scoring 42 goals.

Palace suitors could have swooped for Watford 

Sportsbank, the investment vehicle in talks to buy a share in Crystal Palace, were alerted to the availability of Championship side Watford before switching to south London.

The group, led by local businessmen Zechariah Janjua and Navshir Jaffer, has tabled a bid of around £230million for Palace co-owner John Textor’s 45 percent stake.

However, Mail Sport has learned that Sportsbank were informed about the possibility of buying a stake in Watford prior to their decision to purchase a shareholding with the Eagles.

Vicarage Road owner Gino Pozzo is understood to be open to offers for selling part or all of his shareholding in Watford, with prior reports suggesting the Italian businessman values the club between £150-175m.

However, Sportsbank are continuing with their attempts to purchase Textor’s shares amid hope a deal can be wrapped up by the end of 2024.

Millwall stars in the dark over Harris exit 

Millwall players were left in the dark over Neil Harris’ plans to step down from his position as head coach this week, finding out about the decision just 10 minutes before the club’s official department.

Harris’ departure from The Den arrived as a major shock on Tuesday, but it came as even more of a surprise to the playing squad who discovered the news just moments before it was publicly confirmed.

Harris is Millwall legend given his standing as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, notching 138 goals for the Lions across two stints at the club. He has also held the permanent head coach’s position twice.

Saudis eye up England’s top pundits

Not content with snapping up the Premier League’s best playing talent, the Saudi Pro League is now lining up English football’s most prominent pundits.

Mail Sport understands that networks that broadcast SPL matches want to add high-profile experts to their roster of broadcasting talent, with a number of the Premier League’s most recognisable TV figures in their sights.

Like the players, the financial rewards on offer are likely to be lucrative for those willing to join the SPL revolution.

Another unearthed Lewis-Skelly scouting report… 

In September this column disclosed details of a glowing scouting report from a rival Premier League side on Arsenal’s emerging academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly.

And in light of the 18-year-old’s first Champions League start against Monaco on Wednesday night, Mail Sport has had sight of another filed dispatch – this one less positive – on the youngster from an Under 21 game versus West Ham in August last year.

‘Too laid back and relaxed,’ read the dossier. ‘Lacked intensity but he’s obviously got something about him. Left-footed. Good match knowledge and moves the ball early.

‘Finds it tough to physically compete, or do the dirty work. But he’s got the shape to develop. One to keep watching.’

Everyone is certainly watching now.

Clubs back hygiene poverty campaign 

EFL clubs Middlesbrough, Bolton and Salford City will host hygiene poverty donation drives as part of The Multibank’s successful national campaign.

Tottenham, Newcastle, Sunderland, West Ham, and QPR have all held donation drives at matches since the campaign’s launch last month.

The 2024 Multibank Christmas campaign – led by Kelly Hogarth, the architect of Marcus Rashford’s successful End Child Food Poverty initiative – is designed to raise awareness, and respond to the rising issues of hygiene poverty amongst young people, guaranteeing that they can head into 2025 equipped with the tools, assurance, and confidence they need to maximise their potential in the classroom.

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