Dan Ashworth: Manchester United sent £20m Newcastle ultimatum in sporting director chase

Newcastle have told Manchester United to pay £20million or wait until 2026 to appoint Dan Ashworth as their new director of football.

Ashworth is believed to have told Newcastle that he would like to move to Old Trafford after their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.

Newcastle insist United must pay compensation of over £20m if they want to take him before his 20-month period of stipulated gardening leave.

United will try to negotiate the figure down, but would rather wait than pay such a large sum.

Newcastle believe the terms of their deal to sign Ashworth from Brighton in 2022 back up their demands.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants Ashworth in a leading role as part of a series of backroom appointments to revamp the recruitment department at Old Trafford.

Southampton’s Jason Wilcox is in talks to join as technical director. Chelsea analyst Kyle Macaulay is among those targeted to refresh a transfer structure that has failed since Sir Alex Ferguson departed United in 2013.

Ratcliffe and Ineos have been making major appointments since their deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in United for £1.03billion was ratified last week.

United have already hired Omar Berrada from Manchester City as their new chief executive, while Ineos' Jean-Claude Blanc and Sir David Brailsford have been given positions on the board.

Ashworth has a close relationship with Brailsford. Ratcliffe has taken control of United’s football operations as part of his deal with the Glazer family.

They would like to have an Ashworth-led structure ready before the summer transfer window, when they will target a right-back, centre-back, midfielder and forward capable of playing alongside Rasmus Hojlund.