Manchester United have set their sights on Southampton’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, aiming to bring him on board as their new technical director as part of a revamped recruitment team.
The Red Devils have made an offer to Southampton, equivalent to a year of Wilcox’s salary, in hopes of securing his services.
However, Southampton is disputing the existence of a buyout clause in Wilcox’s contract and is displeased with the timing and manner of United’s approach. Despite being at Southampton for only nine months, Wilcox has become a crucial figure, and the club values him substantially higher in compensation.
United, led by new chief executive Omar Berrada, are familiar with Wilcox from their time together at Manchester City. Berrada envisions Wilcox playing a pivotal role in United’s recruitment setup, ultimately guided by sporting director-elect Dan Ashworth.
Negotiations are also underway with Newcastle, where Wilcox is currently on gardening leave, potentially delaying his official start at Old Trafford until after the summer transfer window.
Moreover, United is considering a broader role for Wilcox, overseeing player pathways within the INEOS group, which includes clubs like Nice in France and Lausanne in Switzerland.
