Dan Ashworth placed on gardening leave as he tells Newcastle he wants to join Manchester United

Dan Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle having informed them he wants to become Manchester United’s new sporting director.

talkSPORT understands Ashworth has a year’s notice clause in his contract so will not be able to start work at Old Trafford for another 12 months unless the two clubs can agree a deal.

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Ashworth would welcome a move to Man United to become their inaugural sporting directorCredit: Getty
Newcastle are looking for a significant compensation payment of well in excess of £10million but Man United are confident of reaching a compromise to enable Ashworth to start work earlier.

He first alerted the Newcastle hierarchy and manager Eddie Howe of Man United’s interest last week.

Man United are hopeful of getting Ashworth in for the summer transfer window in what’s could be a big-spending period for them.

Ashworth joined Newcastle from Brighton in 2022, where he served as technical director, but the Magpies are now braced for his departure. talkSPORT first reported Man United’s interest in Ashworth in December 2023.

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The former Football Association bigwig was confirmed as Newcastle’s director of football in February 2022 but served a period of gardening leave before joining the Toon in the summer.

In his short time on Tyneside, Ashworth has helped Newcastle secure a number of key signings including a cut-price deal for Nick Pope and a club-record transfer involving Alexander Isak.

Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon was then signed in January 2023 from Everton, and he’s enjoyed a sublime season.

Magpies boss Howe admitted he is not happy about the potential impending departure of Ashworth.

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Ashworth’s departure will be a massive loss for the MagpiesCredit: Getty

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But a massive coup for Man UnitedCredit: Getty
“Yeah, it’s quite an unusual situation,” Howe told his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Newcastle’s draw against Bournemouth.

“Usually there’s transfer speculation on players, this is very different. Whatever happens, we want a quick resolution.

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“It’s a difficult one because when you’re in that role you need longevity to actually see the fruits of your labour, it’s sort of a long-term position.

“I think the people that have done it best in the Premier League throughout time have always had a period of stability.

“Change takes a long time in any football club to get those processes exactly how you want them to be.”

At Brighton, Ashworth established a recruitment system that has thrived since his departure, showing his ability to create effective structures within clubs.

Ashworth started his career as an academy manager at Peterborough United before becoming West Brom’s sporting director in 2007.

He was poached by the FA in 2013 and spent five years working with Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate to establish an excellent football structure.

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More success at Brighton and Newcastle has earned him a reputation as one of the smartest operators in the game and now he’s set for perhaps his biggest challenge yet at Old Trafford.

It’s understood should Ashworth complete his move to Man United he’ll look to pinch Chelsea analyst Kyle Macaulay as well as Ipswich technical director Sam Williams.