Man United must pay astronomical price to land Dan Ashworth from Newcastle

Manchester United will have to pay a huge fee if they are to poach Dan Ashworth from Newcastle.

Man United are looking to appoint a sporting director to secure signings for Erik ten Hag's squad, and Ashworth is the number one target.

United's boardroom is undergoing a massive overhaul in the wake of INEOS' investment in the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe - founder and chairman of petrochemicals company INEOS - has purchased a 25 per cent minority stake in the club from the Glazer family, and the deal has been approved by both the Premier League and Football Association.

United have already snatched Omar Berrada from neighbours Manchester City to be their new chief executive, and now they want Ashworth to come an head player recruitment.

However, Newcastle aren't going to let the 52-year-old leave that easily.

According to The Athletic, on Sunday Newcastle placed Ashworth on gardening leave after he informed the club of his intention to leave St James' Park.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund owned club are demanding £20 million from United to terminate Ashworth's contract, but if United decide to play the long game, Newcastle will have to keep paying Ashworth his full salary for the duration of his gardening leave.

Ashworth's contract is valid until 2026, but United are reportedly willing to be patient as Ashworth would be a long-term appointment.

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No formal contact has taken place between the two clubs.

Ashworth only joined Newcastle in the summer of 2022 after resigning from his position as technical director at Brighton & Hove Albion in February that year.

At Brighton he was responsible for signing the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella, players the Seagulls sold on for huge profits.

Since moving to Newcastle Ashworth has spent big on stars including Alexander Isak, Nick Pope and Sven Botman.

If he makes the move to Old Trafford, then Ashworth would work alongside incoming CEO Berrada, INEOS’ CEO Jean-Claude Blanc and director of sport Sir David Brailsford.