Dan Ashworth admits Man United fan-favourite transfer target is “more attractive” for one reason

Dan Ashworth has admitted that a Manchester United fan-favourite transfer target will be “more attractive” for one reason.

Dan Ashworth joined Manchester United in the summer to become the club’s new sporting director as part of the INEOS reshuffle.

The likes of Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox were also brought into key positions in the hierarchy.

Despite a whirlwind of a first transfer window in charge, Ashworth and the recruitment team were pleased with their work in the window.

Five first-team additions were made to Erik ten Hag’s squad in Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro while several large sales were also made.

However, with one potential transfer on the cards next year, Ashworth’s prior comments about “more attractive” signings have resurfaced.

Ashworth explains more attractive transfers

United have had tentative links to former academy graduate Angel Gomes in recent weeks, with the 24-year-old recently making his debut for England.

Gomes left United in 2021 to seek more first-team opportunities. He is now a key player for French side Lille. However, he is not planning to renew his contract there, which runs out at the end of the season.

United are reportedly monitoring his situation, and the player has previously explained that he feels that Old Trafford is ‘home’.

Ashworth, speaking in 2020 during his time as technical director at Brighton, expressed his belief that bringing in homegrown talent is “even more attractive” partly due to the potential increases in the homegrown quota within Premier League squads.

”We have to be on top of things to make sure if there are any rule changes, we do all we can to be as strong as we can be,“ Ashworth told The Athletic.

“If there are going to be rule changes in the number of homegrown players in your squad, from January next year or June this year — whenever it may be — the fact that we had an opportunity to get a good, young homegrown one in does make it even more attractive.”

Gomes return makes perfect sense

There is certainly some level of fan-bias to want a former academy star to return to the club even after what happened with the Paul Pogba deal.

Yet, this transfer would be very different, considering Gomes could return on a free contract and have lower expectations while coming into a new and improved club setting.

United will still need to assess whether he can fit into the deeper midfield role, which looks to be his best position, in the Premier League, but the 24-year-old ticks a lot of boxes already.

As Ashworth said, a young homegrown player is an attractive prospect, and that is a deal that he and the recruitment department will consider.

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