Southampton boss offers cagey response amid Jason Wilcox Manchester United links

Southampton boss Russell Martin has attempted to cement Jason Wilcox’s position at the club, amid rumours of Manchester United’s interest in the director of football.

As first reported by David Ornstein, United are working on a deal to bring Southampton director of football Wilcox to the Premier League club.

If he was to join the club Wilcox’s role at Old Trafford would see him report to the club’s yet-to-be-appointed sporting director, with Dan Ashworth United’s main target for that position.

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Like new United CEO Omar Berrarda, Wilcox previously held a role at Manchester City, where he helped develop City’s academy. This is something United fans would welcome at the club, with the team having such a promising group of young talent rising through the ranks.

For now, Wilcox is at Southampton, where current boss Russell Martin has admitted he hopes the Englishman will remain.

“I hope it’s people putting two and two together and coming up with five.” Martin would tell The Daily Echo on the reports of Wilcox potentially joining United.

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Despite his initial cageyness, Martin would go on to describe United’s reported target as a man he has “nothing but praise” for, indicating what Wilcox could bring to the club.

“I’ve got a lot of time and respect for Jason and a good relationship,” Stated Martin. “It’s no surprise to me that someone would look at the job he’s done over a short space of time here and a long period of time at City and be interested in working with him. I’d like to think he would have a chat with us if anything was in it.

“He’s so honest, he’s so open, he’s been a such big driver of the culture here, he’s enabled us to do the work that we want to do.

“He’s supported me incredibly well and the staff, so I’ve got nothing but praise on the impact he’s had on us and what he’s allowed us to do.

“I hope we can continue to work with him for a long time. I can’t speak on behalf of Jason, but I hope it’s something that blows over quickly.”