Dan Ashworth could instantly return to the Premier League after leaving Manchester United

Dan Ashworth is a potential candidate to become Everton's new sporting director, talkSPORT understands.

Ashworth is back on the market after its Shocking exit from Manchester United last weekend after only five months.

The former Brighton and Newcastle maestro is believed to be held in high regard by the incoming team. Everton owner Dan Friedkin.

Kevin Thelwell is Everton's current sporting director, but Roma Boss Friedkin is likely to want to bring in his own people once the Premier League ratifies his takeover later this month.

Ashworth has also been touted as a possible replacement for Edu in Arsenal having previously worked under Gunners CEO Richard Garlick at West Brom.

However, Edu's replacement, Jason Ayto, is well placed to land the full-time role after taking over as interim following the Brazilian's departure.

Other names on Arsenal's options list include Real Sociedad's Roberto Olabe, who once signed manager Mikel Arteta.

Ashworth only joined United on 1 July, after being described by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as “one of the best sports directors in the world”.

But it appears his transition has not been easy and his departure was announced a day after Saturday's 3-2 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest left United 13th in the table.

A statement from the club said: “Dan Ashworth will leave his position as sporting director of manchester united by mutual agreement.

“We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during the club's transition period and wish him the best for the future.”

Although United have described the decision as mutual, the manner and timing of Ashworth's departure will likely raise further questions for Ratcliffe's Ineos group.

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Ashworth, along with the rest of the United hierarchy, was involved in the decision to offer the former manager Erik ten Hag a new contract in the summer, as mentioned in the official announcement in June.

However, Ten Hag was sacked in October, and that contract extension contributed to a hefty £10.4m compensation bill, before the appointment of Ruben Amorimwho took over last month after United paid around £11m to secure him from Sporting Lisbon.

talkSPORT understands Ashworth was interested in signing Gareth Southgate to replace Ten Hag in Amorim's place.

Ashworth also played a part in an expensive summer of recruiting, with the combined fees of Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee amounting to approximately £200m.

United spent around five months trying to lure Ashworth away from his previous role at Newcastle, with the 53-year-old going on leave to work in the garden. However, Ineos must now try to re-occupy one of the most crucial roles at the club or consider altering the structure.

Ashworth met with chief executive Omar Berrada after the final whistle on Saturday. He was seen rushing through the press conference room to another part of the stadium with director of operations Collette Roche.

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Sunday's announcement comes a day after the publication of an interview with Ratcliffe in the fanzine United We Stand, in which the 72-year-old admitted making “one or two mistakes” when it came to appointing the right people. at United.

Referring to French side Nice and Swiss side Lausanne, also part of the Ineos sporting empire, Ratcliffe said: “If I hadn't played in Nice and Lausanne then we wouldn't have come to United knowing what a great journey it is to get to the final.” point where your antenna is working.

“Our feel wasn't perfect at United and we made one or two mistakes, but they are much better than they would have been if we hadn't played in Nice and Lausanne.”

Man United are currently 13th in the Premier League, while Everton are just five points behind them in 15th.

Simon Jordan's verdict on Dan Ashworth

Here's former Crystal Palace owner and talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan's take on the situation.

Many people in football have earned a reputation or achieved one that they had not earned. I'm not suggesting that's false in that space for Dan Ashworth.

I spoke to Eddie Howe about him the other day, who was very diplomatically polite to him and spoke very highly of him, but Dan Ashworth, as you know, moves with opportunities that suit Dan Ashworth.

He landed before the biggest opportunity of his career. This was the moment I thought we were going to see if this man is all he seems to be because it's one thing to make it at Brighton and be successful at West Bromwich Albion and be successful in rebuilding under anyone but Ashley's regime. That was in Newcastle.

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It's another thing to land in the biggest pond and five months later for whatever reason, who knows why they broke up, but I think if you're going to approach it commercially, do it quickly and they have.

They spent a couple of million pounds or whatever to get him out of his contract with Newcastle and people can pretty well say it was a waste.

Well, they spent £35m on Donny van de Beek and sold him for £500,000. People make decisions that are not necessarily the ones they think they will make.

Better to find out quickly. If you don't think someone has the necessary skills or that the relationship isn't right or that the dynamic isn't good enough or that he isn't what you thought he was going to be or that the environment doesn't suit you or you just have a disconnect total, then make the decision and do it quickly.