Dan Ashworth ‘met up with Graham Potter last weekend’ as pressure grows on under-fire Man United boss Erik ten Hag – with outgoing Newcastle chief having closely worked with ex-Chelsea manager at Brighton

Manchester United’s incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth has met with Graham Potter, according to a report.

Ashworth has been placed on garden leave at current Newcastle as the two United sides struggle to agree a fee for the Briton with the Red Devils.He can either negotiate a higher fee to get him out early, or fulfill the terms of his contract and wait until his garden leave expires.

Mailsport understands that the period of garden leave included in the sporting director’s current contract will move him towards the Jannual transfer winflow from 2026.

It is thought that Man United are prepared to be patient and wait for Ashworth if a compromise cannot be reached, and that would mean paying Newcastle his wages for the duration of his garden leave, although it is expected that a compensation of around £20 million will be paid. agreed.

And it appears Ashworth has already joined United. According to The sunthe 52-year-old former school teacher is said to have met former Brighton boss Potter last weekend.

Ashworth (pictured) joins Manchester United as sporting director after being placed on garden leave by current Newcastle

It has not yet been decided whether Ten Hag (photo) will be the man to lead Manchester United next season

There have been major doubts over the future of Erik ten Hag’s position as manager of Manchester United following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment, which saw the British billionaire take charge of all football operations at the club.

Ratcliffe has refused to publicly back the Dutchman, a move that Ten Hag insists he is not bothered by despite United’s problems both on and off the pitch this season.

Pundits and fans have urged Ratcliffe to decide early on whether Ten Hag is the man to take the club forward under his leadership, but a decision may not be made until the end of the season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (pictured) is making his mark on United after completing his minority takeover last week

Potter, whose last job was at Chelsea until he was sacked in April 2023, is the favorite to take charge at Old Trafford as the club look to move in a new direction.

And he is a man who knows Ashworth well, as the pair previously worked together in Brighton.

It is suggested that Ratcliffe is a big fan of the 48-year-old and has in the past tried to appoint him as manager at Nice, the club he also owns.

Potter is understood to have received a number of offers to return to management since leaving Stamford Bridge but is waiting for the right move. In recent weeks he has been seen in various areas.

He still has to give Ten Hag his public support, a move that the Dutchman says he is not bothered by

Potter and Ashworth know each other well from their time at Brighton

Ratcliffe wants to rebuild the football department at Old Trafford after criticizing the culture at the club, and is already rebuilding off the pitch with the appointment of CEO Omar Berrada, who joins from Manchester City.

He is determined to sign Ashworth – calling Newcastle’s decision to place him on gardening leave ‘absurd’ – and may appoint his own manager in the summer.

Other names that come into consideration if the Red Devils are freed from Ten Hag are Simone Inzaghi, Ruben Amorim and Thomas Tuchel.