Newcastle United are bracing themselves for Manchester United to move for Dan Ashworth having already identified a potential replacement.
2024 is just around the corner and we would hope to see confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment into the club before 2023 ends.
Maybe that is asking for too much, but rumours surrounding Ratcliffe’s arrival have been going on for months now.
Ratcliffe will purchase a 25% stake in United and, in a fascinating move, will take charge of football operations at Old Trafford.
That is likely to spark a revamp of the club’s approach, especially when it comes to recruitment, with a new sporting director surely coming in.
Newcastle United bracing for Manchester United interest in Dan Ashworth
Reports just a few days ago suggested that United may have a ‘dream’ target in mind.
Ratcliffe ally and Ineos director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford is understood to be a huge fan and long-time friend of Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth.
It was suggested that Brailsford would hold out hope of convincing Ashworth even with others – such as ex-Monaco man Paul Mitchell – being in contention.
Well, The Sun now claim that Newcastle are bracing for a call from United about Ashworth and are eyeing a replacement just in case he leaves.
It’s stated that Ashworth has become Ratcliffe’s top target for United, no doubt due to Brailsford’s recommendation.
Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes is thought to be the man in question for Newcastle having worked with Eddie Howe on the South Coast.
That familiarity would seemingly appeal to Newcastle and, if Ashworth does want to join United, the Magpies could put him on gardening leave.
That would delay Ashworth’s arrival at Old Trafford but, in truth, we would be stunned to see him join United…
Ashworth deal still feels unlikely
The reports over the last few days have raised hopes that United could actually lure Ashworth away from St James’ Park.
That initial report did though indicate that Ashworth was happy at Newcastle and wasn’t exactly itching to leave.
United would therefore have to come up with quite the offer in order to tempt Ashworth away and he only started work at Newcastle in June 2022.
Ashworth is about as good as it gets in terms of being a sporting director, doing some exceptional work at Newcastle, Brighton and Hove Albion and even The FA.
Landing Ashworth would really show that United mean business in this new era but we, sadly, think this is an uphill battle for Ratcliffe and co.
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