Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first job as management of Manchester United will be to appoint a new sporting director.

MEN Sport reports that incumbent John Murtough wowed INEOS fact-finding excursions to Carrington. They continue to believe that a new sporting director is needed to push United in the right direction.

Murtough is expected to remain at United in an administrative role until a suitable replacement is found. According to the Manchester Evening News, Ratcliffe’s main goal is Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth, who has overseen a rise at St James’ Park and his previous club Brighton.

Meanwhile, according to The Telegraph, a flurry of prospective names are being explored. We investigated the transfer success stories of the candidates.

Dan Ashworth

Despite having a nearly limitless budget, Newcastle’s sporting director has selected his targets well. Tino Livramento has been a revelation as the Magpies continue to attract new players. Anthony Gordon was an excellent investment. At Brighton, Ashcroft had a fantastic track record, unearthing exceptional players like Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Kaoru Mitoma from the club’s depths before promoting them to the first team.

Julian Ward

Ward served as Liverpool’s technical director until May of this year, when he was moved to sports director in his final year at Anfield. While the Reds’ recent transfer activity has not been remarkable, there have been some big purchases. Diogo Jota stood out during Ward’s term.

Dougie Freedman

The sporting director of Crystal Palace has had a productive time at Selhurst Park. One of his most recent notable signings was Marc Guehi from Chelsea, who has quickly established himself as a regular and has been linked with a move to Manchester United. Freedman has also made good use of the loan market, bringing in Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Paul Mitchell

Mitchell is a Manchester United fan who has also worked for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Bringing Heung Min-Son, Dele Alli, and Kieran Trippier to Tottenham displayed his knowledge and created the framework for Mauricio Pochettino’s success.

Lee Congerton

The Welshman has been with Atalanta’s recruitment squad since 2022, but he was previously the top scout at Leicester City. During this time, the Foxes signed Wesley Fofana, Youri Tielemans, and James Maddison.

Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara

Maldini and Massara, former AC Milan teammates, were astute transfer market operators in Italy. Their purchases were a mix of youth and experience. Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud was a cheap and astute addition, while Fikayo Tomori has gained in stature. Rafael Leao, a former Lille player, was perhaps their most significant addition, immediately becoming one of Europe’s most sought-after players.

Andrea Berta

Atletico Madrid’s long-serving sporting director has helped the club regain popularity in Spain. Among his famous acquisitions are Rodri, Thomas Lemar, and Rodrigo de Paul.