It would turn many heads to know that Manchester United’s squad at the end of last season had been assembled at a collective jaw-dropping cost of £1.21billion, and it is the direct responsibility of Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth to get more value for money in the transfer market,
The Old Trafford club be stumping out a multi-million pound bill to secure the services of Dan Ashworth as football director before the next season kicks off as new United joint-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen for Ashworth to replace Jon Murtough at Old Trafford, and is eager for this to happen this summer.
The grey cloud in the sky, compensation aside, is that Newcastle will rightfully demand that Ashworth serves an extended period of gardening leave – before trotting off on his white steed to take up his new role as gallant knight in shiny armor with the Reds.
Ratcliffe is apparently desirous of Ashworth overseeing United’s transfer dealings even as early as June onwards and is even willing to attempt negotiating a deal involving suitable compensation that allows this to happen.
However, should Newcastle decide to be unyielding, then Ratcliffe will have no options but to wait as long as is necessary to get his man. Ashworth was forced to serve a long period of gardening leave before joining Newcastle from Brighton in 2022.
Ashworth is known to be close friends with Ratcliffe’s right hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, who will be in charge of United’s transfer dealings. Ratcliffe is understandably more than anxious to overhaul the club’s football operation and believes that Ashworth has the necessary combination of power, influence and savvy to make sure United are able to get maximum value for their money in all future transfer market transactions.