Sir Jim Ratcliffe receives expected response after attempting unique Premier League swoop

Current Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is believed to reject any approach from Manchester United that would see him ‘demoted’ from a managerial position.

Earlier this week reports emerged from ESPN’s Mark Ogden that United would be looking to engage in talks with O’Neil over the Englishman coming in as part of the club’s coaching set-up.

It has been heavily reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos want to install the ‘best in class’ of staff throughout the club. This stretches to both on the pitch and off it, with United already hiring Omar Berrada, as well as their public pursuit of Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth.

O’Neil, who has received a large amount of praise for his work at Premier League clubs Bournemouth and Wolves, is reportedly perceived by people within United as another example of a smart hire for the betterment of the club in a supporting role to another first-team head coach.

However, according to a new report from talkSPORT, O’Neil is likely to rebuff any attempt from United to hire him.

The reason behind this is simply that any move away from a position as manager would be essentially a demotion, this is regardless of who the hiring club would be.

Speaking about his future to reporters earlier this month, O’Neil emphasised that he is committed to the job he’s doing at Wolves:

“I’m not available so I shouldn’t be linked with any other jobs,” stated O’Neil. “I’m doing the job I want to be doing, love what we’re trying to achieve.”

In what is only his first season at Wolves, O’Neil has been an undeniable success. Currently sitting in ninth place, O’Neil’s side are only six points behind Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United team.

Still fighting for European football, Wolves only narrowly missed out on an FA Cup semi-final after conceding two stoppage time goals during their 3-2 defeat to Coventry City.