Jason Wilcox has recently emerged as a target for
Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to appoint a director of football. Since acquiring a stake and taking the reins at Old Trafford , the
British billionaire has set out to take the Red Devils back to ' the very top of English, European and world
Football '. He's made great progress so far on his mission to rebuild the club, forking out millions on several boardroom appointments. The likes of Sir David Brailsford and Omar Berrada, who worked closely with Wilcox during a period at
Manchester City , have been brought in to steer Manchester United in the right direction. Ratcliffe has shown no sign of slowing down either, with his next task reportedly being the appointment of a director of football. The Manchester Evening News understands that the Red Devils have approached Southampton about Wilcox . READ MORE: 'Absolute rubbish!' - Roy Keane fumes at Man United in brutal
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Chelsea hijack Man United transfer plan to sign 'excellent' £103m wonderkid United have offered the Saints the equivalent of a full year's salary as compensation , even though the 53-year-old only arrived at St Mary's in the summer. Nevertheless, Wilcox has emerged as a target for the Red Devils – and it's clear why. Speaking to the Mirror in October 2016 – a year before becoming Manchester City academy director – he spoke of his desire to 'spoil'
Pep Guardiola with academy graduates. Wilcox said: "I’m not someone who gets carried away, but I have never seen anything like the talent we have at this Academy. "We have got kids here who are at a level that is just mind-blowing. It makes me hope that I am working here for the next 10 years. We want Pep Guardiola to be spoilt for choice – and we are getting there." With Ratcliffe eager to produce the next Kylian Mbappe rather than splash the cash on the
Paris Saint-Germain star, Wilcox certainly fits the bill. So, with that being said, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at some of the best signings which Manchester City and Southampton made during the former Blackburn Rovers winger's respective tenures. Shea Charles – Manchester City to Southampton (2023) Charles joined Southampton on four-year deal in the summer, becoming the second new signing at St Mary's this summer following the arrival of Ryan Manning. While the 20-year-old midfielder has struggled to have the desired impact on the south coast this term, he's been tipped to 'go to the top' by Russel Martin in an interview with FLW . Romeo Lavia – Anderlecht to Manchester City (2020) Wilcox was the Manchester City academy director when the club signed Lavia from Anderlecht. After two years earning his stripes in the academy, the teenage midfielder joined Southampton where he quickly established himself as one of the most exiting young players in the
Premier League . After catching the eye, Chelsea forked out millions to secure his signature. Unfortunately for Lavia, he's struggled to stay fit at Stamford Bridge, though he remains an excellent talent which Wilcox unearthed. Oscar Bobb – Vålerenga to Manchester City (2019) Bobb has enjoyed a breakout campaign at Manchester City this season, featuring 20 times across all competitions. Following the departure of Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer, Wilcox had a ready-made replacement for Guardiola on the right-wing. Morgan Rogers – West Bromwich Albion to Manchester City (2019) Another player who's currently making a name for himself at the highest level. Rogers joined Manchester City from West Bromwich Albion in 2019 and, after handful of loan spells in the EFL, he joined Middlesbrough in July 2023. By January, the 21-year-old forward had earned himself a £15million move to Aston Villa. Liam Delap – Derby County to Manchester City (2019) Delap signed his first professional contract just 12 months after becoming a scholar at Manchester City. The striker, who now plays for Hull City in the Championship, was once regarded as one of the best young players in Europe – which was a huge coup for Wilcox and the club at the time. But, due to little opportunity in the first-team, Delap struggled to establish himself in the top flight. Despite this, he is still only 21 and remains an exciting prospect with a fruitful future ahead of him. So... With Wilcox at the helm, there could be a significant power shift in Manchester. While not every new player will be a tremendous success, the Red Devils will certainly be heading in the right direction if they're signing the likes of Lavia and Bobb instead of splashing the cash at a later date. Not to mention incredible homegrown talent which Wilcox helped source too... Try MUFC Pro NOW for free Subscribe to our brilliant app for the best way to enjoy the M.E.N's unrivalled Manchester United coverage. No adverts, pop-ups or distractions - just our brilliant content presented in the best way possible. Comprehensive, round-the-clock coverage of the Reds, with agenda-setting
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