Julian Ward, a former sporting director for Liverpool, has been linked to Manchester United this week, but the esteemed businessman is presently weighing his options. Ward is considering his next move in light of reports that he may be a candidate for Manchester United’s search for a new sporting director.
Following Michael Edwards’ announcement that he would be leaving Anfield last summer, Ward, 42, who spent 11 years at Liverpool, took over as the transfer guru’s replacement. In November, however, only a few months after taking the position, Ward made the decision to leave it. Ward’s services have already been sought after by other clubs since he officially left the club in May.
The Athletic reported that, for the time being, Ward is weighing his options after spending time with his family, which was high on his agenda after leaving Anfield. He was approached by Dutch powerhouses Ajax toward the end of last season, and he is one of several names Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos team has discussed. Ineos is poised to buy a 25% minority stake in Manchester United, one of Liverpool’s fiercest rivals. It had been rumored that Ward had returned to Liverpool in the summer to serve as an advisor, but both he and the team have denied this. Intriguingly, it is known that Ratcliffe’s group has also discussed the name Edwards when considering a replacement for manager Erik ten Hag’s support system. Paul Mitchell, who had a successful stint at Monaco, and Newcastle manager Dan Ashworth are two other people of interest. Another candidate for the position of sporting director is Jean-Claude Blanc, the current CEO of Ineos’ sporting empire.
If Manchester United’s board approves Ratcliffe’s proposal, which is worth approximately £1.3 billion, at a meeting later this week, the appointment of a sporting director will only be one of the items on Ratcliffe’s agenda. Furthermore, Ratcliffe would have control over football operations under the terms of his agreement, even though the Glazers would still hold a 25% stake. If his deal is approved, the billionaire petrochemicals investor will also move forward with plans to renovate Old Trafford. According to The Times, the stadium needs a serious facelift, and there are plans to expand its seating to accommodate 90,000 more people.
Over the weekend, Ratcliffe’s chances of closing a deal received a big boost when rival bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani withdrew his United offer. Only acquiring 100% of the club was of interest to the Qatari-backed group.
