Dan Ashworth is the man Ineos want as Manchester United football director, but obstacles are in place to delay his eagerly anticipated switch from Newcastle.
The latest on the matter is United are ‘refusing to compromise’ with the Magpies over the fee they are demanding for Ashworth’s services, according to the Daily Mail.
Newcastle want £20 million in compensation for losing their highly thought of sporting director. It is an outrageous sum of money to pay. It’s not like Ashworth will be our top goalscorer next season!
However, the report adds that Newcastle are happy for Head of Recruitment Steve Nixon to take control of transfers. At the same time, United’s new chief executive Omar Berrada will be given the same responsibilities at Old Trafford until Ashworth is let go from ‘Saudi Arabia Sportswashing FC’.
It is unclear whether the current situation will be resolved before the transfer window opens because Newcastle are holding out for their money.
I don’t think Sir Jim Ratcliffe or United, as a whole, can be blamed for their reluctance to dance for a state-owned football club’s carrot. Ashworth may be considered one of the best sporting directors in football, but I’d argue spending £20m on compensation for any sporting director is crazy.
It says a lot about Newcastle that they want to forbid Ashworth from working for the foreseeable period. Perhaps this is a warning call to any sporting directors they want to hire in the foreseeable future.
The hit pieces are out
Newcastle fan, sportingswashing aficionado and journalist Luke Edwards came across rattled in his latest Telegraph column.
In Edwards’ little world, the human rights-abusing owners at St James’ Park can do no wrong, but instead, he has chosen to focus on Ashworth. The former Brighton technical director appeared popular among journalists until it was clear that a move to Old Trafford was on the cards.
The article in question blames Ashworth for Newcastle signing Sandro Tonali and being unaware of the betting scandals that would follow. Edwards wrote: “It was his job to do the required due diligence on every new signing and this was a major issue he failed to uncover.”
How on earth was Ashworth to know Tonali had a burner phone with gambling apps on it? Perhaps it is time for recruitment teams to hire spies.
I do not doubt that these hit pieces wouldn’t exist if Ashworth wasn’t trying to complete his move to United. This one, in particular, is illogical nonsense.
Spare a thought for Edwards.
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