Newcastle United agree third key departure to round off a manic weekend

NEWCASTLE UNITED have rounded off a manic weekend by sanctioning Dan Ashworth’s exit to Manchester United.

The two clubs have agreed on a compensation package for the former Magpies sporting director, who is now free to take on a similar role at Old Trafford.

The money received for Ashworth, along with the fees banked for the sale of Yankuba Minteh to Brighton and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest, ensure that Newcastle have remained compliant with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations and will not face a points penalty next season.

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Had the Magpies failed to plug a gap of more than £50m on their balance sheet ahead of last night’s accounting deadline, they could have been docked more than ten points next season, a fine that would almost certainly have scuppered any chance of reclaiming a place in the Champions League.

Ashworth was placed on gardening leave more than four months ago after expressing an interest in leaving Newcastle in order to move to Manchester United.

A series of discussions over compensation failed to reach a resolution, with Newcastle initially insisting that they would force Ashworth to see out the whole of his gardening leave period, which was due to extend well into 2025.

Their stance infuriated new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who criticised it publicly, and it had looked like an independent hearing would be needed to break the impasse. Ashworth was ready to take Newcastle to arbitration in an attempt to force through the move, with Manchester United having agreed to pay his legal fees, while the Magpies felt they were in a strong position because of Ashworth’s actions as he tried to set up his switch.

None of that matters any more now, with Newcastle having reached an agreement with Manchester United that should see Ashworth begin his new job at Old Trafford immediately.

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Newcastle continue to search for a replacement, with Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman having turned down an offer to leave Selhurst Park and head to Tyneside. Johannes Spors, who is currently the global sporting director of 777 Group, remains an option.

The Magpies confirmed the departure of both Minteh and Anderson overnight, with the pair having been shipped out because of financial reasons rather than footballing issues.

Minteh has joined Brighton for £33m, with his contract at the Amex Stadium not containing a buy-back option.

The teenage winger moved to Newcastle for around €7m last summer, and leaves without having played a single senior game for the club. He spent last season on loan at Feyenoord, and impressed in the Eredivisie, scoring ten goals and contributing six assists.

“I’m feeling really happy about the move,” said Minteh, who turned down the offer of a move to French club Lyon in order to test himself in the Premier League. “Feyenoord was a great experience for me.

“Everybody loved me, the coaching staff, players – it was like a family. But Brighton is a club which I have watched in the Premier League. It’s a good club for young players, and the way the young players have progressed here is important for me.

“I think it’s a great thing to move to (another) Premier League club. Although I didn’t play any games for Newcastle, look where I am now. I have the chance at Brighton in the Premier League.”

Anderson will also be in the top-flight next season after agreeing a permanent move to Nottingham Forest for a fee of around £35m.

The homegrown midfielder made 55 senior appearances for Newcastle, and was a key member of Eddie Howe’s first-team squad in the final few months of last season, featuring in all of the club’s final 12 league matches.

Howe did not really want to lose Anderson, and the 21-year-old did not really want to leave Newcastle, but in the end, the move became impossible to avoid.

“We are all delighted to welcome Elliot to Nottingham Forest, and pleased that he has chosen to continue to develop his talent with us in the Premier League,” said Forest’s chief football officer, Ross Wilson. “We are sure he will thrive in a Forest shirt, as other players in his age profile have done. As soon as the opportunity arose for him to potentially join, it was something we were all excited to make happen.”

As part of a hectic few days, Newcastle made a signing of their own as they added Greek international goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to their squad.

The 30-year-old joined Forest from Benfica last summer, but made just five Premier League appearances last season.

His move to Tyneside will almost certainly result in the departure of Martin Dubravka, who was lining up for Slovakia yesterday as they crashed out of Euro 2024 at the hands of England. Dubravka, who has entered the final year of his contract with Newcastle, has been heavily linked with a possible move to Celtic.

“I am very happy to be joining Newcastle United,” said Vlachodimos. “Its an honour for me to be part of this huge club, with excellent players and a great coach. I can’t wait to get started.”

Howe added: “Odysseas is very experienced at elite European and international level and he joins a strong group of senior goalkeepers. That strength in depth is valuable and means we go into the new season with strong competition in a key area.”