Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United revolution is moving at breakneck speed, with the club poised to secure their first major backroom appointment since the INEOS billionaire's partial takeover.
United are closing in on a deal to bring Southampton's highly-rated director of football, Jason Wilcox, to Old Trafford. The move signals a clear intent from Ratcliffe and his team to overhaul the football operations at the club from the ground up.
A Swift and Decisive Move
Despite only formalising his minority stake at the club, Ratcliffe's INEOS group is wasting no time in implementing its vision. The pursuit of Wilcox has been aggressive, with United ready to trigger a one-year gardening leave clause in his Southampton contract to secure his services immediately.
This approach underlines the new regime's determination to install their preferred candidates without being hamstrung by lengthy negotiation processes. Wilcox is seen as a pivotal figure to lead the technical side of the club's restructuring.
The Wilcox Blueprint: From Academy to First Team
Wilcox's reputation precedes him. A key architect of Manchester City's famed academy system during his time there, he is widely credited with playing a fundamental role in developing the production line of talent that now feeds their first team.
His work at Southampton, where he took up the role of Director of Football last summer, has further bolstered his credentials. He is admired for his holistic approach to football development, focusing on creating a cohesive philosophy that runs from the youth levels all the way to the senior squad.
The Dan Ashworth Connection
This potential appointment is also deeply intertwined with United's ambitious pursuit of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director. Wilcox and Ashworth have a prior working relationship from their time together at the Football Association, and it is believed they would form a powerful partnership at Old Trafford.
Securing Wilcox is a significant step towards convincing Ashworth to make the move from Newcastle United, where he is currently on gardening leave. United are building a formidable team behind the scenes, aiming to replicate the successful structures seen at Europe's elite clubs.
The expected arrival of Jason Wilcox marks the first concrete step in the Ratcliffe era, a clear statement of intent that the focus will be on building a modern, sustainable football operation capable of returning Manchester United to the pinnacle of the game.
