Manchester United have made a final offer of £3m in compensation to Newcastle for Dan Ashworth.
But Newcastle have rejected the bid out of hand – and are holding out for closer to £15m. The impasse has left the Premier League rivals at loggerheads when it comes to Ashworth’s future.
And the only way it could be resolved is if Ashworth instigates arbitration proceedings against his Newcastle bosses. United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to appoint Ashworth as sporting director, as part of his ongoing overhaul at Old Trafford.
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Ashworth has agreed a contract with United, but has been left kicking his heels after being placed on gardening leave for 18 months in February, after telling Newcastle he wanted to leave. Newcastle initially demanded £20m for Ashworth, which Ratcliffe laughed off as being “absurd”.
(Image: Getty Images)
Talks have taken place between the two clubs, but United made it clear they were not prepared to pay more than £3m for the services of Ashworth. United bosses have taken the stance that, while Newcastle refuse to find a compromise, they will have to continue to pay Ashworth’s wages for doing nothing.
Newcastle paid Brighton £2.6m in compensation for Ashworth back in 2022 – and United believe this is the benchmark. United had been hoping to have Ashworth in place before the start of next season, but this now looks highly unlikely.
Since buying a 27.7 per cent stake in United for £1.25billion in December, Ratcliffe has overseen an overhaul of the senior positions at Old Trafford. CEO Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough have both left, with United appointing Omar Berrada as Arnold’s replacement.
While Jason Wilcox has been lured from Southampton as United’s new technical director.