Newly appointed Manchester United boss Mauricio Pochettino wants the club to sack director of football Jason Wilcox.
Manchester United sporting director Jason Wilcox faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford after incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino has requested changes in the recruitment structure, according to Football Insider.
The new manager wants someone he can trust to oversee transfers and has already discussed potential replacements with the club hierarchy.
The 54-year-old has recently been appointed as Manchester United’s manager and is gearing up to take charge of his first game against Liverpool at Anfield. His arrival could trigger further changes behind the scenes as he looks to establish greater control over the club’s football operations.
The appointment a new sporting director was crucial to Pochettino accepting the role, with discussions taking place over who can take up that role, with Wilcox likely to be releived of his duties.
The former Tottenham manager has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and will expect the club to support his plans. However, his ambitions could be tested by United’s financial limitations, particularly if he looks for significant investment in January.
The club are expected to prioritise defensive reinforcements if they add players during the winter window. United failed to strengthen their backline during the summer despite clear requirements, instead concentrating all their recruitment efforts on midfield. They also failed to sign another striker to provide competition and cover for Benjamin Sesko.
Pochettino’s appointment comes after Michael Carrick was dismissed following a disappointing spell in charge. United collected just eight points from their opening ten league games under the former midfielder and managed only three victories in 15 matches across all competitions.
While those results made a managerial change difficult to avoid, Carrick was also working with a squad that had not been adequately strengthened in several important positions. The club’s financial situation could create further complications for Pochettino.
Bruno Fernandes turning down a new contract has added another concern, with replacing the Portuguese midfielder potentially becoming a major challenge if his situation leads to a departure.
The Glazers and INEOS are not expected to provide unlimited funds, meaning Pochettino may have to work within considerable restrictions.
Changes to the recruitment structure could help convince supporters that United are addressing deeper problems at the club. However, replacing Wilcox would represent a significant shift behind the scenes, and Pochettino’s reported demands suggest he wants the people responsible for building his squad to share his vision.
