Regarded as one of the most esteemed sporting directors in Europe, the 52-year-old has garnered high praise for his exceptional work. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen on bringing him to Manchester United. Nevertheless, Newcastle is determined not to make it a straightforward process for the Red Devils.

David Ornstein shares what he has heard about Dan Ashworth and Manchester United

Yesterday, Newcastle United placed Dan Ashworth on gardening leave in response to his request to be released, prompted by interest from Manchester United. According to a report by BBC Sport, the Red Devils have formally approached Ashworth for the position, yet Newcastle remains resolute in their demands, unwilling to let him go easily.

Newcastle United reportedly believes they have the right to request a fee significantly higher than £10 million from Manchester United. However, according to David Ornstein, the concerns go beyond financial compensation. Newcastle is also intent on ensuring that Dan Ashworth is not involved in Manchester United’s plans for the upcoming summer transfer window.

During his appearance on BBC’s Monday Night Club, Ornstein stated, “Based on the conversations I’ve had today, it appears that Newcastle’s main concern revolves around the upcoming summer transfer window.”

Newcastle United’s primary objective appears to be preventing Dan Ashworth from working for Manchester United and maintaining any communication with them during the upcoming summer transfer window. If they can achieve this, the situation may be more manageable. The club’s two key points are ensuring that the financial compensation is satisfactory and avoiding Ashworth’s involvement with Manchester United during the transfer window.

Furthermore, even if Ashworth has previously discussed their practice of planning multiple transfer windows in advance, Newcastle aims to restrict his access to the finer details of their plans. It is common knowledge in the industry that information about other clubs’ activities is widely known among insiders.

Newcastle are right

It is evident that Manchester United is eager to secure Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director, and Ashworth’s own request to leave suggests his interest in the position as well.

While Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS may not be pleased with Newcastle’s firm stance, the Magpies are justified in their actions. The issue extends beyond monetary considerations; it revolves around Ashworth’s existing knowledge of Newcastle’s plans for the upcoming summer transfer window.

If Manchester United were to gain access to that information, they could potentially gain a significant advantage. This explains Newcastle’s reluctance to involve Ashworth until the closure of the summer transfer window in September.

Given the circumstances, it is understandable why Newcastle has taken this stance to protect their interests.