Man United's bid thwarted by high demands, revival path likely long.

Kapil334

I thought Manchester United could finally change their previous chaotic management with the new boss, but it seems this vision will need more time to materialize. Currently, due to unresolved compensation issues, their sporting director will be delayed from taking office for another 9 months. In other words, Old Trafford currently lacks a formal sporting director, which could pose problems for them.

Manchester United's owners, the Glazer Group, are currently recruiting a new sporting director and aim to restructure the club around this new hire to return the club to the top tier capable of contending for titles. They have set their sights on Newcastle's current sporting director, Ashworth. The 53-year-old Ashworth has a longstanding relationship with the Glazers and Manchester United, having previously collaborated with them. The Glazer Group trusts him and wants him to come and overhaul Manchester United.

However, Ashworth only joined Newcastle in 2022, so Newcastle naturally does not want to let him go. They have demanded a hefty compensation of £20 million, while Manchester United is willing to pay only £3 million, believing the £20 million demand to be excessive. Despite negotiations, Ashworth is willing to join Manchester United, but the deal has reached a stalemate, leading to arbitration, where a third party will make the final decision.

The arbitration timing is yet to be determined. Even if the outcome favors Manchester United, Ashworth would not start until March next year. If Newcastle wins the case, Manchester United would have to wait at least 18 months for Ashworth to join. During this time, Manchester United would go through two transfer windows without a sporting director overseeing transfers, which is the worst-case scenario for the Glazer Group's ambitions to reform the club.

Therefore, Manchester United will likely need to wait patiently for some time longer to regain competitiveness.

Jatin255

When there's a contract in place and the other party is unwilling to release the individual, the only option left is to pay the buyout clause. Manchester United may indeed be very sincere, but Newcastle has transformed significantly since then. With sponsorship from a Saudi consortium, Newcastle is now aiming for the Premier League title. Naturally, they are reluctant to let a talented individual go to their direct competitors. Moreover, besides their "Red Devils" moniker, Manchester United also carries the reputation of being "ManTappers," notorious for inflating prices. When entering the transfer market, they habitually raise prices when they see other teams targeting the same players, which understandably frustrates other clubs—Newcastle may have experienced this firsthand.

Manchester United's image is that of a club not lacking in funds, evident in their significant spending on player transfers. Even a player like Anthony, primarily known for his use of a compass, could command a £100 million transfer to Manchester United. Therefore, for a sporting director, £3 million is not a substantial amount to the Saudi consortium. If a sporting director were to depart, it would leave many responsibilities behind, necessitating the recruitment of an experienced replacement and rearranging various tasks, especially during the current transfer window and management restructuring. However, without Champions League revenue next season, Manchester United may be hesitant to spend £20 million on a sporting director, suggesting they should consider alternative targets sooner rather than later.

Shri333

It seems that English Premier League club Manchester United's path to finding a sporting director is indeed fraught with obstacles....

Ritu13

In the global football market, which operates as a supercharged supermarket for buying and selling talent, it's an incredibly mature and bustling arena. Whether it's Manchester United or any other elite club, poaching players is never an easy task! Every player is priced or negotiated for, and it's not simply a matter of desire or money to secure their services. Therefore, it's not surprising that Manchester United faces exorbitant demands—it's par for the course. There are bound to be many twists and turns ahead.

Unfortunately, players aren't like herd animals; they can't be easily swayed by good food and drink alone to fulfill every wish. Manchester United's atmosphere, its culture, or the spirit of the team may need significant rebuilding. This is far from a simple or straightforward task. Even with a sporting director in place promptly, there's no guarantee of immediate optimism... this isn't child's play.

For the football world, this adds yet another post-dinner topic of discussion and speculation. Is this a never-ending soap opera? Let's watch closely and see!

Ritu77

Are they demanding a high price because they know Manchester United is wealthy, or is this person really worth that much?

Niti998

The Manchester United management is facing delays in appointing a sporting director, which could potentially impact the club's future development plans and the process of restoring competitiveness.

Shri

The current issue at Manchester United lies not with the players, the fans, or the head coach, but with the management. If the management doesn't overturn and rebuild, there is no hope for revival.