Dan Ashworth may soon find himself back in Premier League employment following his recent exit from Manchester United.
On Sunday, it was confirmed that Ashworth had stepped down from his role as sporting director, just five months after being appointed. Manchester United reportedly paid Newcastle United £5 million in compensation when they hired him.
Despite his short stints—20 months at Newcastle and less than half a year at Old Trafford—Ashworth’s reputation remains relatively intact. According to ESPN, Arsenal are considering him as a candidate to replace Edu Gaspar, who recently resigned as the club’s sporting director. Gaspar is set to lead Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club group, which includes Olympiacos and Rio Ave.
Ashworth’s potential move to Arsenal is bolstered by his existing relationship with managing director Richard Garlick. The two previously worked together at West Bromwich Albion, where Garlick succeeded Ashworth as sporting and technical director in 2013 after Ashworth left for the FA. Garlick is reportedly heading Arsenal’s search for a new sporting director.
Additionally, Roberto Olabe, who announced plans to leave Real Sociedad at the end of the season, has also been linked to the role. Olabe played a key part in Newcastle United’s negotiations to sign Alexander Isak for a club-record £63 million in 2022. Isak has since proven his worth, scoring 42 goals in 82 appearances for the Magpies.
