EXCLUSIVE: Who really calls the shots on Man Utd transfers

Steve Kay

Updated: 22 Oct 2024 22:40 BST
4 min read

Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth, Erik ten Hag — © IMAGO

FootballTransfers understands that CEO Omar Berrada was the driving force behind the most high-profile of Manchester United's summer transfers.

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Sources have confirmed that Erik ten Hag no longer holds the decisive power over the Red Devils' transfer dealings following INEOS' significant overhaul of the club's upper management.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS allies such as Sir Dave Brailsford brought several fresh faces on board towards the end of last season and in the summer in a bid to restructure the running of the Premier League giants.

Omar Berrada was hired from Man City to become Man Utd's new CEO, Jason Wilcox joined from Southampton to act as technical director and Dan Ashworth, after lengthy negotiations with Newcastle, was named the club's new sporting director.

Ten Hag was surprisingly handed a new contract after the conclusion of the previous campaign - Man Utd's worst in the Premier League era - but he had to give up some of his influence over transfers.

The signing and selling of players is still a collaborative effort, even more so now with more people involved, but according to sources, key figures Ashworth and Berrada have significant influence over recruitment at the club.

We can reveal that Berrada even played a pivotal role in securing the high-profile signings of Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro, the crown jewels of Man Utd's summer business, costing €50 million and €62m (not including bonuses), respectively.

Ten Hag not a long-term solution

While Ten Hag does still have veto power, his control is no longer as absolute as it seemed prior to Ratcliffe's investment. The club’s leadership has shifted the transfer responsibilities away from the manager, particularly concerning younger talents like Chido Obi-Martin (16), Yoro (18) and Ugarte (23).

The reason for this, we are told, is quite simple: There are concerns over Ten Hag's long-term future at the club despite the fact that he was handed fresh terms.

Sources emphasised that Berrada, not Ten Hag, was the driving force behind the signings of Ugarte and Yoro, signalling a growing divide between the manager and the club’s broader strategy.

This has raised questions about Ten Hag's influence over United’s future, especially when it comes to shaping a squad that reflects the club's long-term vision. Indeed, we are told that Berrada and Ashworth both hold veto powers when it comes to transfers, giving them the ability to overrule Ten Hag if need be.

© IMAGO - Erik ten Hag and Matthijs de Ligt at Ajax

It could not be fully ascertained who was really behind the arrivals of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, two of Ten Hag's former Ajax protégés. Ashworth has insisted that "it's natural" for the Dutchman to want to work with players he knows and that "they were both on our radar and it’s a joined-up decision on who comes in and out of this football club."

However, the increasing influence of the new sporting director and Berrada elucidates a clear power shift within the club, with figures behind the scenes now taking a more active role in shaping the future of Man Utd's squad after the failings in recent seasons on the pitch and in the transfer market.

With doubts lingering over Ten Hag’s future, it remains to be seen how much longer the Dutchman will be entrusted with steering United’s project. The club evidently are already preparing for life without him.