Newcastle United have told Manchester United to pay £20 million for Dan Ashworth, with the situation getting more complex by the day.
According to Daily Telegraph, Manchester United have been told to pay £20 million to sign Dan Ashworth. Should the Red Devils oblige to Newcastle Untied’s demand, it would be a record sum, so far unheard of for a director of football.
Newcastle United demand £20 million for Dan Ashworth
Premier League have confirmed INEOS’s investment in Manchester United, which has let them acquire 25% of the club and control over football operations. Immediately afterwards, it has become increasingly clear that INEOS intends to appoint a new director of football, with many names already discussed.
In recent weeks, Dan Ashworth has emerged as their top priority for that role, with some reports even highlighting why the Newcastle United key man was keen on leaving St. James’ Park. However, things in the background are more complex than first thought, as the Magpies could complicate the appointment.
Manchester United had hoped to seal the move with Ashworth this week, although Newcastle’s demands have added a layer of twist. The Magpies have demanded £20 million to allow the key executive to leave after he relayed his intention to depart and potentially join the Red Devils.
Newcastle United have since placed Ashworth on gardening leave, while he also has a contractual stipulation that would see him take another job only after 24 months. So, should Manchester United refuse to pay the £20 million demanded by the Newcastle key man, the former Brighton director of football will only be able to take up another such role in 2026.
Will Manchester United pay £20 million for Ashworth?
At the moment, Manchester United have no intention of paying £20 million for Ashworth. For starters, such a fee is unheard of for a football executive, and secondly, the Red Devils will look for ways to reduce that asking price considerably.
However, different signs are coming from Ashworth over the recent period, as he has stayed coy on rumours linking him to Manchester United. He would have known about the huge asking price, and to avoid complications, he must have kept quiet on those rumours, which could further indicate the Red Devils are open to paying up, although there are questions on how far they are willing to go.
