Manchester United confident of taking Dan Ashworth from Newcastle to become new sporting director
Manchester United are confident of taking Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United, talkSPORT understands.
The former Brighton transfer guru is Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s top target to become their new sporting director.
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Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent stake in Man United has now been ratified by the Premier League, and he wants to appoint a head of recruitment to work with Ashworth at Old Trafford.
The Englishman joined Newcastle in 2022, but the Magpies are now braced for his departure from St James’ Park.
Ashworth was officially confirmed as the Magpies’ director of football in February 2022 but served a period of gardening leave before joining the Toon in the summer.
Immediately, he helped Newcastle complete a cut-price deal for Nick Pope and a club-record transfer involving Alexander Isak.
Anthony Gordon was then signed in January 2023 from Everton, and he’s enjoyed a sublime season.
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Dan Ashworth Newcastle signings
Alexander Isak [Real Sociedad] £60m
Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] – £52m
Anthony Gordon [Everton] £45m
Tino Livramento [Southampton] – £40m
Harvey Barnes [Leicester] – £38m
Sven Botman [Lille] £35m
Matt Targett [Aston Villa] £15m
Nick Pope [Burnley] £10m
Alex Murphy [Galway United] Undisclosed
Charlie McArthur [Kilmarnock] Undisclosed
Jude Smith [East Fife] Undisclosed
Garang Kuol [Central Coast Mariners] £400k
Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed
Harrison Ashby [West Ham] Undisclosed
Cathal Heffernan [AC Milan] Undisclosed
Reece Byrne [Bohemians] Undisclosed
Travis Hernes [Shrewsbury Town] Undisclosed
Lewis Hall [Chelsea] Loan
Amadou Diallo [Free]
Ashworth works closely with Eddie Howe to identify targets and helped close out summer deals for Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Lewis Hall.
Livramento has looked like a star in the making at left or right-back, while Tonali appeared born to play in the Premier League until he was banned for illegal betting on football.
Barnes has also struggled with injury but has shown flashes he will be another top signing for the Toon.
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At Brighton, Ashworth also established a recruitment system that has thrived since his departure, showing his ability to create effective structures within clubs.
talkSPORT reported Man United’s interest in Ashworth in December 2023, and with Ratcliffe’s stake now confirmed, talkSPORT expects things to heat up.
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Peter Schmeichel compares Rasmus Hojlund’s career so far to Erling Haaland and backs the Manchester United striker as the ‘real deal’
The lifelong Man United fan plans to waste no time in putting his plans into place and Ashworth’s appointment is a big part of that.
The 52-year-old has a vast amount of experience, starting his career at Peterborough as an academy manager before becoming West Bromwich Albion’s sporting director in 2007.
The FA then poached Ashworth in 2013, and he spent five years working with Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate to establish an excellent football structure.
His success at Brighton is well-known, and Newcastle were hoping he would be the man to lead their new era, but that’s not looking likely, as it stands.
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