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Manchester United have reportedly made a move for Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox. It comes amid a continued rebuild of the behind-scenes hierarchy at Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking to overhaul United's sporting operations.
As per The Daily Mail, United have tabled an offer for Wilcox, with the view to hiring him ahead of the summer transfer window. It's claimed that the Red Devils are willing to pay Wilcox's wages for the next 12 months in compensation, in an attempt to lure him away from the Championship side.
Elsewhere as part of the rebuild, Ratcliffe and co. have been pushing hard to tempt Newcastle United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, to join the club. However, while interest in the football guru remains, United have given up on hopes of hiring him ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window, hence the keenness to bring Wilcox in sooner.
But, Southampton aren't willing to sanction his departure just yet, with the south coast outfit believed to be after a more lucrative exit package. Details of such a deal have yet to be agreed, but Wilcox has remained in his post at St Mary's Stadium following initial reports of United's interest earlier this year.
The 2017 League Cup runners-up are said to be upset with United over the timing of their approach. Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are in the midst of a promotion tussle in the second tier. United, according to the report, maintain they’ve acted ‘professionally’, with all of the necessary formal channels having been gone through ahead of an offer being submitted.
Wilcox is a product of the City Football Group, with the ex-England international having overseen the development of stars in the Manchester City academy. The likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis were all in the youth setups at City when Wilcox was academy director.
If Wilcox makes the switch to Old Trafford, he'll become the second former City man to have been hired by the INEOS group. Omar Berrada made the cross-city move in January, when the former chief football operations officer at the CFG was announced as United's new CEO.
