Dan Ashworth's plan to 'raid Chelsea' once Man Utd move is confirmed

Manchester United are keen to bring in a key member of Chelsea's backroom staff in order to support incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth, according to a report.

United are hoping to appoint Newcastle's Ashworth as part of the club's structural shakeup with INEOS in charge of footballing operations.

The Sun report Ashworth wants to bring in Chelsea's chief analyst Kyle Macaulay amid plans to work with a larger pool of experienced staff.

Macaulay worked under Ashworth at Brighton & Hove Albion when the latter was the Seagulls' sporting director. Having moved to the Amex Stadium in 2017, Macaulay followed head coach Graham Potter to Chelsea last season, initially joining as head of scouting before a role change in the summer.

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In addition to Macaulay, United are also working to sign Ipswich Town technical director Sam Williams, who previously worked for the Red Devils as a youth scout and video analyst.

Newcastle are already ramping up plans to replace Ashworth, with manager Eddie Howe vouching for former Bournemouth colleague Richard Hughes - the Cherries' technical director since 2014. However, the Magpies' hierarchy are looking at other options as well and could decide against an appointment so close to Howe.

Brighton's head of scouting Sam Jewell, who has been heavily linked with both United and Chelsea, is rising up Newcastle's shortlist and has been credited with identifying some of Ashworth's biggest success stories when he was at the Amex Stadium.

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