Dan Ashworth's legacy is haunting Michael Carrick and Ineos after Man Utd ‘pattern' from first three matches

Dan Ashworth might no longer be at Old Trafford, but the former Manchester United sporting director's ill-fated spell is being felt by Michael Carrick and Ineos. Ineos have to shoulder part of the blame for Dan Ashworth's shortcomings after their desperation to bring the former Newcastle sporting director to the Red Devils. Ashworth, who is now the chief football officer for the FA, arrived at Old Trafford in July 2024 after Manchester United paid out a £4.1m compensation package overall. The former Ineos-appointed Man Utd figure turned out to be a 'bad investment' for Sir Jim Ratcliffe after his tenure at the Premier League club lasted only five months. READ MORE: I think Michael Carrick's tactical positions of three Man Utd players vs Everton show where the blame lies Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images What are your early thoughts on United right now? Is there a KEY change Carrick needs to make? What is it? Or does the team just need consistent selection, for the players to play themselves into form? Getty Images Dan Ashworth played a key part in Joshua Zirkzee's arrival and Michael Carrick has sent a clear-cut Man Utd sign to Ineos Dan Ashworth oversaw Manchester United's first transfer window under Ineos alongside Omar Berrada and spearheaded the signing of Joshua Zirkzee in 2024. According to The Sun newspaper in 2024, Erik ten Hag did not even want Joshua Zirkzee at Old Trafford after Ineos brought him to Old Trafford from Bologna. More United News The Red Devils paid more than Zirkzee's £33.6m release clause in 2024 by agreeing to a deal worth £36.54m to ensure the fee was settled over a longer period of time. Zirkzee became the first signing of the Ineos era and the 25-year-old Dutch forward's struggles have only amplified Ashworth's poor legacy at the club. The United striker has played second fiddle for the majority of his Old Trafford spell and Ineos have struggled to offload the former Bologna player from the Red Devils. Zirkzee has been on the bench for the last three Premier League matches and Michael Carrick has not once turned to the Netherlands star as an attacking option. The Man Utd forward might have featured under United manager Carrick in pre-season, but the writing was on the wall for Zirkzee even then in the summer. READ MORE: How Michael Carrick's three Premier League results in first full season compares with past Man Utd managers Another TOP performance from Kobbie Mainoo! What did you like most about it? Did Michael Carrick make a mistake by taking him off? Getty Images Ineos were unable to offload Joshua Zirkzee before the transfer window shut and stopped Man Utd from signing a replacement Joshua Zirkzee had been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the summer after interest from Serie A sides Fiorentina and Juventus. However, neither Fiorentina nor Juventus were willing to ultimately roll the dice with Zirkzee before Everton failed with a deadline-day move for the Netherlands attacker. United have been cash-strapped in recent times and Zirkzee's exit could have freed up the wages and finances needed to bring another forward to the club. Instead, Zirkzee remained at Old Trafford and Carrick and Ineos are still unable to move beyond a relic signing from the poorly aged Ashworth era at Man Utd. Ashworth's legacy has impacted United from further rebuilding the frontline with an effective alternative to Benjamin Sesko when the Slovenia striker is unavailable.