Dan Ashworth is on gardening leave (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Manchester United have no intention of paying Newcastle United’s ‘silly’ asking price for Dan Ashworth, despite the Magpies reportedly lowering their demands.
The former Brighton executive is on gardening leave after informing Newcastle that he had accepted an offer from Manchester United to become their new sporting director.
Newcastle were furious with Ashworth and told him he would have to serve a notice period of around 20 months, unless the Red Devils paid a compensation package of around £25m.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe labelled those reported figures as ‘silly’ and ‘absurd’, with United prepared to wait until 2026 to get their man.
Newcastle have reportedly lowered their demands to £20m, but say Ashworth will not be released from his gardening leave until after the summer transfer window.
Ashworth has agreed to join Manchester United (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
But the Manchester Evening News say the Red Devils’ stance hasn’t changed, and they still feel Newcastle’s demands are excessive.
Added to that, the Magpies are walking a Financial Fair Play tightrope and United don’t want to hand them a large figure for a non-playing member of staff.
They will therefore play the long game, and hope to talk Newcastle down from their figure.
The report claims Newcastle paid less than £4m to extract Ashworth from his Brighton contract only two years ago.
Omar Berrada will join as United’s new CEO and is currently serving gardening leave at Manchester City.
United hope to appoint Jason Wilcox as head of recruitment.
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