Manchester United make official approach to Southampton for Wilcox
Jason Wilcox: Joined Southampton in June 2023
Written by Simon Austin — April 1, 2024
MANCHESTER UNITED have made an official approach to Southampton for their Director of Football Jason Wilcox.
The Old Trafford club want to make Wilcox their Technical Director and have offered to pay Saints the equivalent of a full year of his salary - even though he has only been with the South Coast club for nine months.
Southampton have turned the approach down and are willing to put Wilcox on an extended period of gardening leave, TGG understands. United are hoping for a “reasonable and amicable outcome.”
They are also engaged in ongoing negotiations with Newcastle United about a deal for their Sporting Director, Dan Ashworth. The 52-year-old was put on gardening leave by Newcastle in February, after informing them of his desire to join Manchester United.
Wilcox is well known to United’s incoming Chief Executive Omar Berrada, with whom he worked at United. Wilcox joined Southampton last summer after more than a decade with City.
The former England international had joined City as an Academy coach in 2012, becoming their Under-18s Lead, then their Head of Academy Coaching, and in 2017, their Academy Director.
At Southampton he replaced Matt Crocker, who is now Sporting Director for US Soccer.
