Manchester United & Newcastle United Remain In Stalemate Over Dan Ashworth
Manchester United’s hopes of having Dan Ashworth appointed before the summer transfer window are now looking very slim, as they remain in a stalemate with Newcastle United. The two clubs are currently refusing to reach a compromise on the sporting director, who is currently on gardening leave from the Geordie club.
Ashworth informed Newcastle of his desire to join Manchester United last month, but the two clubs have moved no closer to agreeing a deal that would see the former Brighton man join the Red’s. He is expected to take over in a role below Omar Berrada at the club and is unlikely to be the sporting director in the same way he was at St. James Park. Jason Wilcox has been rumoured to be lined up as the technical director at the club.
Ashworth Remains On Gardening Leave
As reported by Matt Hughes of the Daily Mail, Manchester United and Newcastle are no closer to reaching an agreement on Dan Ashworth. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are unwilling to pay the £20 million asking price the Magpies are currently asking for Ashworth, and both clubs at the moment are likely to enter the summer transfer window without a sporting director.
Omar Berrada is expected to take charge of negotiations in the meantime as United prepare for their first window under new ownership since 2005. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken in the past of his distaste for Newcastle’s behaviour in refusing to be amicable about Ashworth leaving the club, with United reaching an agreement with Manchester City very quickly for Berrada, who was at the club much longer.
Brighton were paid £5 million by Newcastle for Ashworth in 2023, and United are said to be citing that as the reason they deem £20 million to be a ridiculous price. The former England director’s role at St James Park was also said to be diminished when compared to his Brighton role, with Eddie Howe having the biggest say in most of the transfers the club made.
Negotiations are still ongoing, and there is still hope an agreement can be reached, but it’s taking a lot longer than United would have imagined.
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