A favourite has emerged to in Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman to replace Dan Ashworth as Manchester United's sporting director.

Man United are scrambling to find a replacement for Ashworth after his shock exit from Old Trafford.

The former Newcastle chief left the club just months after joining, leaving the Red Devils in a state of turmoil.

The club’s bigwigs, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are now on the hunt for a new sporting director. And it seems they already have a favourite.

According to the bookies, Crystal Palace’s Freedman is the frontrunner for the job. The former Bolton boss has been linked with the role before and is highly rated by many in the football world.

Freedman is known for his shrewd dealings in the transfer market and his strong relationships with agents.

He also has a good rapport with Sir Alex Ferguson, which could give him an edge in the race for the United job.

But the Eagles are desperate to keep hold of their star man. Palace chairman Steve Parish has insisted that there have been no talks with United, but he admitted that Freedman is a highly sought-after figure.

With the Red Devils in desperate need of a new sporting director, it seems that Freedman could be the man to help them get back on track.

United confirmed Ashworth's departure earlier this week, after a tenure of a mere five months at Old Trafford.

The club stated: "Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement. We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future."

After Ashworth’s exit, the focus shifted swiftly to his potential successor but Ratcliffe may also not look for an immediate successor.

Reports brought to light that the responsibilities of the role would be divided amongst Sir Dave Brailsford, United's chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Wilcox is set to bear the brunt of the role's demands. United's staff received an email on Wednesday which disclosed that Wilcox will temporarily take over Ashworth’s responsibilities.

Henceforth, he is set to be the main contact for anything linked to the scouting department and recruitment affairs.

Wilcox joined United in April this year, moving from Southampton. At the time of his appointment, it was announced that he would collaborate with all technical aspects of the football department to achieve the highest performance standards.

Erik ten Hag, the former United boss, previously emphasized the importance of his relationship with Wilcox, calling it a vital partnership.

United's current boss Ruben Amorim has also expressed his thoughts on Ashworth’s termination, stating that these kinds of changes are a part of football.