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Rob Dawson, Correspondent
Manchester United have made a formal approach to Southampton for director of football Jason Wilcox, a source has told ESPN.
Wilcox is United’s top target to become their new technical director as part of the recruitment shake-up being led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team.
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The club have made a formal offer of compensation for the former Blackburn Rovers and England winger, although terms have not yet been agreed with Southampton.
The Championship side, according to a source, are unhappy with the timing of the approach as they attempt to win promotion back to the Premier League.
United want Wilcox in place before the summer transfer window.
Their bid to install Dan Ashworth as director of football has stalled because of Newcastle United‘s reluctance to reduce their demands.
Ashworth is currently on gardening leave and United are keen to avoid a similar situation with Wilcox. A gardening leave clause prevents a worker from working for the employer’s competitors.
They are hopeful compromises can be reached with both Newcastle and Southampton.
Wilcox is well-known to United’s incoming CEO Omar Berrada after their time together at Manchester City.
Wilcox, 53, oversaw the academy at the Etihad Stadium before moving to Southampton In the summer of 2023.
As a player, he was part of Blackburn’s 1995 Premier League title-winning team and was capped three times by England between 1996 and 2000.