It’s seemingly only a matter of time until Newcastle United and Manchester United agree terms for the Red Devils to secure the services of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director. Ashworth, who was recruited by the Magpies in 2022 from Brighton, has established a strong reputation among English football’s elite for his approach to first-team development.
Ashworth’s arrival on Tyneside was seen as Newcastle’s centrepiece of their mission to re-establish themselves at the top table of the English Premier League following their takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). However, the 53-year-old has already had his head turned by Manchester United. Following the recent investment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the INEOS owner is keen to recruit Ashworth to oversee a major rebuilding job on the field at Old Trafford.
A major shuffling of the pack is required for the Red Devils
Even United’s current boss, Erik ten Hag, realises the need for a shift in dynamic throughout the United squad. The Dutchman believes a change in strategy can be fruitful in bringing a younger dynamic, sparked by a renewed focus on homegrown and British talent. United have been woefully inadequate in the transfer market in recent seasons and Ratcliffe, Ashworth and ten Hag will need to work together to reignite this jaded club.
United are likely to have to fork out upwards of £20-£21 million for Ashworth. That’s because the Magpies immediately placed Ashworth on a two-year gardening leave when he announced his desire to talk terms with Ratcliffe and co. It’ll cost £20 million-plus to convince Newcastle’s co-owner, Amanda Staveley, to allow him to leave before January 2026.
Why is Dan Ashworth such a crucial piece of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Old Trafford jigsaw puzzle?
A sporting director is essentially a chief executive with a direct remit of hand-picking suitable transfers for the head coach to work with, based on the club’s preferred style of play. Ashworth has proven himself exceptional at understanding the required DNA of players both at club and international level.
He worked with the England FA to devise the so-called “England DNA” blueprint, which was designed to improve individual player development in the men’s national team. Ashworth was then head-hunted by Brighton & Hove Albion to become the Seagulls’ technical director. He was hugely influential in finding untapped talent at rock-bottom prices. Brighton gave the likes of Moises Caicedo a platform to flourish and then sell on for immense profits. The Ecuadorian was signed for just £4.5 million and sold to Chelsea two years later for a minimum fee of £100 million.
Ashworth has also been instrumental in recruiting key players for Newcastle’s new-look team under Eddie Howe. The likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman were all hand-picked by Ashworth and have gone on to make huge impressions on this Newcastle side.
With Manchester United lacking a clear link between the senior hierarchy and the football management department, Ashworth is viewed as the ideal bridge to restore Old Trafford’s infrastructure.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement from the Old Trafford hotseat in 2013, the Red Devils have spent well over £1 billion on transfer fees. It has achieved very little for them on the field of play. They’ve failed to win a Premier League title ever since Ferguson’s departure and they’ve only landed one FA Cup, one EFL Cup and one UEFA Europa League in the last 11 years. For a club used to winning doubles and trebles, this is far from acceptable.
Ratcliffe’s right-hand man, Sir Dave Brailsford, is also an acquaintance of Ashworth, which can only help to build trust and collaboration in-house once again. With his ability to define and implement a coherent direction and vision, United will be in much better hands with Ashworth than the likes of Ed Woodward.
