Dan Ashworth left Manchester United in December with his glowing reputation as one of football's leading sporting directors diminished.
The former Newcastle, Brighton, West Brom and FA man arrived at Old Trafford last summer with his appointment hailed as a statement of intent by Ineos. This was a man who had a transformative impact on most clubs he worked at and would offer a badly needed structure within United's transfer strategy.
Yet his first summer window at the Reds was a major disappointment. Only Noussair Mazraoui can be considered a success so far, with every other player signed, struggling to make any sort of impact under Ruben Amorim and his predecessor Erik ten Hag, who ultimately paid the price with his job in October.
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Ashworth left the Reds soon after Ten Hag's departure, with United confirming in December that he had left his position at the club after just five months. Whilst he has played a role in United's disastrous season, he still has enough currency to attract interest from other Premier League teams.
The Athletic now report that Arsenal are considering a move for Ashworth as they seek a replacement for Edu who had played a key role in the Gunners' improvement under Mikel Arteta. The 53-year-old is likely to be given more time in North London and will work under a better structure.
But there will also be pressure on Ashworth to succeed at the Emirates Stadium after his short-lived stay at M16. His disastrous tenure at United can be accepted as being down to the Reds' struggles across all areas.
However, if his time at the Gunners also ends in disappointment, Ashworth's status as a highly-rated sporting director will come into question. He could, though, provide the missing pieces in Arsenal's jigsaw.
Playing a role in Arsenal's first Premier League title win since 2004 would enhance his reputation and confirm United's incompetence.
