Dan Ashworth decision marks crucial step in Manchester United’s Ineos revolution

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Manchester United is willing to bide their time for Dan Ashworth, as Newcastle United is demanding complete compensation of up to £20m for their sports director.

Ashworth has been put on leave from his gardening duties as he made it clear to Newcastle that he wishes to move to Manchester United. However, the two clubs haven't talked about the potential transfer yet.

Ashworth has made an important choice that is a significant part of Ineos's efforts to update Manchester United's football department. He has been their preferred candidate for a long time. Ashworth and the new Old Trafford management only came to a preliminary agreement on Sunday evening. In the past, the 52-year-old rejected an offer due to the conditions, but always wanted to be part of the team.

Ashworth has been selected as the fresh technical director for Manchester United, but might end up being named as director of football operations instead. Initially, Ineos had thought of dividing the position as they couldn't recruit the Newcastle executive. However, Ashworth's likely appointment has caused the company to stick to the original plan for the structure.

Ashworth became a member of the Newcastle team in 2022. Prior to this, he occupied various roles with the Football Association and Brighton.

This implies that the potential recruitment head will be answerable to Ashworth, rather than being a teammate of his. Provided that Ashworth's plan is successful, the recruitment head position will be the final significant role to be occupied in football.

When Old Trafford makes a formal approach, Newcastle will demand £20m for full compensation. However, Ineos does not agree with this amount as they find it impractical. They also consider it wise to wait for a few months to find the perfect candidate who will bring a lasting shift in direction.

Board member Jean-Claude Blanc held discussions with Ashworth, as part of the strategy outlined by newly-appointed CEO Omar Berrada, who was previously with Manchester City.

Dave Brailsford aimed to appoint Julian Ward, a former executive of Liverpool, to the position. But, Ashworth has been the most preferred candidate for quite some time now.

It has been rumored that Paul Mitchell, who used to work as Monaco's director, might become the new recruitment leader. This seemed more plausible when the role was going to be combined with that of a technical director.

The CEO of Newcastle United, Darren Eales, released a statement expressing their disappointment about Dan's decision to leave. Nevertheless, the team's journey will continue and they will start searching for a new sporting director as soon as possible. Eales also showed gratitude towards Dan for his contribution to the team and wished him and his family success moving forward.