Dan Ashworth ‘set to take Newcastle to arbitration’ in bid to force through Man United move and end gardening leave, after Old Trafford club ‘rejected £20m compensation wanted by Magpies’
- Manchester United are keen to make Ashworth their new sporting director
- Ashworth was given gardening leave after telling Newcastle he wanted to go
- Arne Slot must become his own manager. Replacing Jurgen Klopp is an impossible task. Don’t try to imitate him – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Dan Ashworth will reportedly take Newcastle to arbitration as he pushes through with a move to Manchester United.
The 53-year-old was placed on gardening leave by the Magpies in February after informing them he wanted to move to Old Trafford to take up the role of sporting director.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have been making a raft of signings behind the scenes, with Man City’s Omar Berrada taking over as CEO this summer, while Jason Wilcox has already been brought in from Southampton as technical director.
Newcastle have imposed a £20million valuation on Ashworth in terms of compensation, but the Red Devils have reportedly refused to meet that figure.
The Athletics report that Ashworth will be backed by Manchester United in an arbitration case expected to start in May and last several weeks.
Dan Ashworth will reportedly take Newcastle to arbitration as he pushes through with a move to Manchester United
United are unwilling to meet Newcastle’s £20m compensation demands for Ashworth
Ratcliffe essentially confirmed the Red Devils’ interest in February, saying it was ‘absurd’ that he has been placed on gardening leave.
He said: ‘I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the best sporting directors in the world, there’s no doubt about that.
‘He is a very capable person. He is interested in the Manchester United job because it is probably the biggest sporting director job in the world at the moment, with the biggest challenge.
‘We’ve obviously had a falling out with Newcastle. They would clearly be disappointed if they lost Dan. But what I do find completely absurd is the suggestion that a man who is really good at his job spends a year and a half in his garden. That’s completely stupid.’
If Ashworth makes the move, newest United signing Wilcox will report to him as the current Magpie employee will take overall responsibility for football performance, recruitment and operations.
Despite their reluctance to let Ashworth leave, Mail Sport reported that Crystal Palace chief Dougie Freedman has been shortlisted to replace him as sporting director at St James’ Park if he leaves.
Ashworth has been on gardening leave since telling Newcastle he wants to make the move
It was also previously reported that Newcastle are happy to let recruitment chief Steve Nixon determine their transfer plans after Ashworth was placed on gardening leave.
Berrada, meanwhile, is expected to take charge of negotiations for the Red Devils in the interim as they look to land Ashworth.
