Manchester United have already given up his role as sporting director after brutally sacking Dan Ashworth just five months ago, according to reports.
Ashworth was relieved of his duties in a meeting with United CEO Omar Berrada on Saturday evening following the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
As reported by Mail Sport, the shock decision is believed to have been made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford in consultation with co-owner Joel Glazer, although United have insisted the split was mutual.
Now The Sun has claimed that United have called time on their failed experiment which saw their position fall completely just weeks before the January transfer window.
Ratcliffe, his right-hand man Brailsford, Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox are expected to take on the responsibilities of the role.
Ashworth is set to receive a reward, but the amount will be less than the £3 million United belatedly signed him from Newcastle in July.
The Sun have reported that Ashworth, 53, is now a potential target for Arsenal.
The club are considering their options to replace Edu as sporting director after he announced his departure, and free agent Ashworth is said to be on their radar.
Crucially, Ashworth maintains a close working relationship with Arsenal director Richard Garlick, who is believed to be leading the search for a replacement.
The two men worked together for three years during their respective spells at West Brom. Garlick was legal director at The Hawthorns and operated under Ashworth before replacing him as sporting director when he joined the FA in 2013.
The same outlet has also linked Everton with the transfer guru.
It is understood that United are not currently looking for a direct replacement for Ashworth.
United sources said Ashworth's departure was a 'very difficult decision', adding that he had behaved with decorum and integrity.
United legend Rio Ferdinand was stunned by the surprising news but urged Ineos to apply the same level of ruthlessness to Ruben Amorim's struggling side.
'Confusion is the first thing that comes to mind. I just hope that they will be as cruel as the staff who have been working there for years and that they are culling,” Ferdinand said in a video on his official X account.
“I hope they're that bold with the damn players out there. If there are damn players, and players who have been there too long or players who just aren't good enough, be as bold as they have been.
'Get them out quickly.
'I hope they are. For better or worse, at least they made a bloody decision. That's the way I think about it.
'I think there is a lot of noise around the club. Ticket prices are now going up, over 250 staff have been laid off and again, they are very final.
“They say, 'We're doing this. We don't care about the noise.'”
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