Sir Dave Brailsford is reportedly set to take up a more withdrawn role at Manchester United following a fast start to life at Old Trafford. The 60-year-old has been working closely with Sir Jim Ratcliffe since INEOS successfully acquired a minority stake in the Red Devils.
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It has been all systems go since Ratcliffe inherited the role of overseeing the footballing side of United, with a major shake-up already ongoing behind the scenes as the foundations are laid for a successful transfer window.
Omar Berrada has arrived from Manchester City to become chief executive of the club, with Jason Wilcox leaving Southampton to take up the role of sporting director at the Theatre of Dreams. Negotiations with Newcastle to acquire the services of Dan Ashworth are ongoing as well and a compensation package between the two outfits remains a sticking point in those talks.
A big summer is anticipated in relation to the squad as well, though Brailsford looks unlikely to play a major role in orchestrating the rebuild. According to the Daily Mail, the former Great British cycling chief is set to ‘take a step back’ from his duties and occupy a more withdrawn role.
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Brailsford has been Ratcliffe’s right-hand man since his £1.3billion deal was confirmed at Christmas, identifying how United can improve as an operation and key areas which needed addressing as a priority.
He has liaised with manager Erik ten Hag and other members of the coaching team over the past five months, whilst also holding regular talks with members of the team. Players have been ‘impressed’ by Brailsford’s desire to host one-on-one meetings with each individual.
Though those regular conversations look set to come to an end soon, with the INEOS director said to be keen to return to his home in Monaco in September so that he can focus on the running of Ligue 1 outfit Nice, which is also owned by Ratcliffe.
Striking an agreement with Newcastle for Ashworth is likely to be key in Brailsford reducing his duties at United as he is currently undertaking plenty of sporting director-like work to ensure that the Red Devils are not at a disadvantage whilst the former Brighton chief is on gardening leave, having made it clear to the Magpies that he would like to join United.
