Ruben Amorim breaks silence on Dan Ashworth's Man United exit amid Arsenal links

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that Dan Ashworth departing Old Trafford is a 'bad situation' amid reports that Arsenal could be interested in his services.

Ashworth officially joined United five months ago after Ineos were embroiled in a compensation saga with Newcastle for his services. Eventually, a fee in the region of £5m was agreed between the two clubs for the former Brighton chief to start work in Manchester.

However, that relationship soured to the stage that Ashworth was forced to leave. Addressing the situation for the first time, Amorim insisted that the outgoing sporting director had always supported him despite claims from our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News that Ashworth was vying for Gareth Southgate to replace Erik ten Hag.

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"The first thing I want to say since the first day I felt great support from the ownership, from Omar [Berrada], from them also, from Jason (Wilcox), and Dan was part of that," he explained. "And I really, really, really [received] support from Dan also.

"But this is football and sometimes this happens, happens with players, with coaches, I know it's not the best situation but the important thing is we continue in our way. The path is really clear for everybody and I think this can happen in football.

"Of course, it's a bad situation. Like I said, we are talking about a human being, a professional, that supports us as a team but I think the most important thing is the vision is really clear and that don't change if one person leaves."

Arsenal are currently on the hunt for a new sporting director after Edu left earlier this season. Ashworth has been linked with the Gunners as he looks for a new opportunity in football.

Ashworth has a close relationship with Arsenal's managing director Richard Garlick having worked with him at West Bromwich Albion. The former United man is also thought to be attracting interest from Everton ahead of their takeover from the Friedkin Group.