David Ornstein

Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United sporting director after just five months. Ashworth officially joined United on July 1 after a lengthy period of gardening leave at former club Newcastle United, but the transition has not been smooth and his exit has been decided upon. Ashworth’s departure was agreed in a meeting with chief executive Omar Berrada at Old Trafford after United’s Premier League game with Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been pivotal to the call to part ways, in a move that will stun staff at United given Ashworth’s...

Liverpool have made an opening contract offer to Mohamed Salah. The 32-year-old’s existing terms expire at the end of this season and — like with Virgil van Dijk, who is also on course to become a free agent — a new deal has been tabled. It does not mean an agreement is in place or close and, despite a growing belief around Anfield that both players will stay, at present there is no certainty. A resolution is expected to take time, which is far from ideal for Liverpool given Salah and Van Dijk — plus academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold — can sign a pre-contract agreement with...

Police will look again at allegations - strenuously denied - made against a Fulham coach who worked at the club from 1992 to 2008

An investigation into a former footballer's claims she was sexually assaulted by her coach at Fulham Football Club in the 1990s has been re-opened by the Metropolitan Police.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are working on a deal to appoint Vitor Pereira as their new head coach following the departure of Gary O’Neil. The Premier League club are ready to pay the release clause in the 56-year-old’s contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem, given Pereira is thought to be keen on a move to Molineux and is excited by the quality of the squad. The Portuguese and his backroom staff are vastly experienced having operated together in multiple countries and secured league titles at Porto, Olympiacos and Shanghai SIPG.

Chelsea have ended doubts over the future of Josh Acheampong by tying their young talent to a new and improved long-term contract. Acheampong’s previous agreement was set to expire in June 2026 but following an uncertain period, he has signed a fresh five-year deal. It sees the promising defender, 18, commit to Stamford Bridge until 2029 and is a timely development for the west London club. Problems during the negotiations impacted Acheampong’s game time at senior and age-group level, but subsequent progress saw the academy graduate earn his full first-team debut in the recent Conference...

The Friedkin Group (TFG) is set to complete its takeover of Everton with an official announcement expected on Thursday. TFG reached an agreement to purchase Farhad Moshiri’s 94 per cent stake in the Merseyside club back in September, subject to regulatory approval, including from the Premier League, Football Association, and Financial Conduct Authority. Multiple sources with knowledge of the matter, not authorised to speak publicly, have told The Athletic that the process is now in its final stages with all that remains now being notification that all official documentation has been...

Kieran Tierney will leave Arsenal next summer at the latest after the club decided against activating an option to extend his contract. While Tierney’s deal expires in June, Arsenal retained the ability to prolong it by 12 months. That would have enabled them to utilise the left-back, 27, for longer or secure a fee if they elected to sell him at the end of this season. But Arsenal needed to take up the opportunity by a set date, which has now passed, and Tierney has been made aware of the situation. It means his career in north London is drawing to a close and the Scotland international can...

Southampton have agreed a deal with Ivan Juric to become their new manager. Juric has agreed a deal until the summer of 2026 with the a two-year option to extend. The contracts are being drafted and Juric is expected to arrive in the UK today (Friday). The Croatian will have a visa appointment and, if all goes to plan, he will be in place for Southampton’s trip to Fulham on Sunday. Juric is viewed by Southampton as a strong character who is good at making teams hard to beat through physical intensity and a solid defensive structure, though does have good ideas in possession too. After...

The representatives of multiple Newcastle United players have been left in the dark after fees the club owed them were not paid on time. A number of agents should have received commission instalments in September and are still waiting, with no explanation provided as to what is happening or when it will be resolved. High-profile squad members who are partially remunerated via image rights have experienced a similar delay, although Newcastle say they have recently taken steps to fix that problem. It is believed to be a financial processing issue at ownership level — rather than cash flow or a...