Athletic Bilbao are said to be confident of keeping director of football Mikel Gonzalez amid reported interest from Manchester United.

United are searching for a replacement to Dan Ashworth after he left the club in December. Ashworth lasted just five months in the role after being headhunted by Ineos last summer.

His arrival was part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's attempt at revamping the football operations at Old Trafford. However, the mysterious exit before Christmas has left a hole in United's hierarchy heading into the summer transfer window.

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Reports in Spain had linked United with Gonzalez, who had impressed with his role at Bilbao in recent years. However, Estadio Deportivo have claimed that the La Liga side are confident that United will not be able to steal Gonzalez any time soon.

The report adds that Bilbao are 'very calm' about the situation and there's a feeling that the 37-year-old won't abandon the project at the San Mames Stadium. Journalist Nico Rodriguez, who is said to have 'internal sources' at Bilbao, has claimed Gonzalez will remain in Spain.

"I have made a call and Athletic Club are very calm, very calm," he said on El Chiringuito. "They know that it is normal for good work to arouse the interest of big clubs, but they have told me that they are very calm, that they know that Mikel González is 100 per cent no.

"They have literally told me that he is 1000 per cent committed to the Athletic project and that they have no doubt that he is not going to leave Athletic. At Athletic they do not give him any importance and they are clear that he is going to stay."