Manchester United are reportedly set to make a ‘formal approach’ for Newcastle United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group continue to assemble their new executive team.
The club have been linked to the likes of ex-Liverpool recruiter Julian Ward, Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman and most heavily Paul Mitchell, who has worked at Southampton, Spurs, RB Leipzig and more, but Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth now appears to be the frontrunner.
As per The Athletic, the leading candidate has now told the Magpies of United’s interest and although there is yet to have been any contact between the two teams thus far, a formal approach is expected to come soon.
ln fact, the word from Fabrizio Romano is that Ashworth has apparently already personally agreed to the move, it’s just a case of the North East club greenlighting it and setting their terms.
🚨 Dan Ashworth has already said yes to Manchester United. He's prepared to accept their proposal as it's considered big opportunity & project.
Understand Man United are intentioned to negotiate and pay compensation to Newcastle; they absolutely want Ashworth now, not in 2025. pic.twitter.com/Ka2pHQzFnh
As explained in multiple reports, the main hurdle the Red Devils now face is how much it’s going to cost them, with Newcastle understood to be after significant compensation if Ashworth is to depart.
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The 52-year-old only arrived at the club a couple of years ago, not long after the Saudi takeover and the start of their own rebuild, and given their recent progress not only in recruitment but on the pitch as a result, they are obviously keen to keep him on board as they continue their resurgence.
Having already helped develop the player recruitment structure as well as investing in attracting more youth talent on Tyneside, his reputation at Newcastle and prior is a glowing one.
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It is this pedigree, combined with the other highlights on his CV that has seen Ashworth jump to the top of Ratcliffe’s list, with the UK billionaire and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford said to want him in place and ready to help overhaul in time for the transfer window rather than wait until next summer.
🗣️ "I think it's a real determination from INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe to get the best in class"
The Back Pages Tonight panel on reports that Man Utd are closing in on hiring Dan Ashworth as their sporting director 🔴📰 pic.twitter.com/GymQr2kvwq
Who is Dan Ashworth and why do Man United want him?
Before his role at Newcastle, started out his youth career as a footballer at Norwich and eventually went on to get his first job as a sporting and technical director at West Brom in 2007.
He then went on to join the FA as their director of elite development in 2012 and played a key role in the success of both the men’s and women’s national teams throughout the age groups and beyond, with several of England’s youth teams having gone on to win silverware.
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It was in 2019 that he became technical director at Brighton, whose recruitment strategy has been heavily praised over the past few years, before eventually leaving in February 2022 after being headhunted by Newcastle to become their new sporting director.
Both teams have picked up some very good players and introduced some promising young talent in recent seasons, so United will be hoping for similar success at Old Trafford. Fans can also expect Ashworth to create better communication and relationships throughout the club’s infrastructure.
🎙 Our interview with #NUFC's newly appointed sporting director, Dan Ashworth is now available to watch in full on YouTube.
Once again, no official approach has been made as yet but is thought things could move quite quickly once an offer is made and United’s board are clearly keen to make things happen soon.
The impressive bit of poaching is also thought to have played into Ashworth’s own decision to say yes according to The Guardian, and if approved, Manchester United could have a whole host of new faces at the helm in a relatively short space of time.
Manchester City’s Stadium Tours are back for the summer and bigger than ever
Danny Jones
Manchester City stadium tours are back for summer 2026, with more to see from the home of the Blues than ever, and with 15% off all tickets until the end of August, too.
It’s safe to say that Man City are going through a HUGE period of change right now: embarking on a new era under Enzo Maresca following the dynasty of Pep Guardiola, vast redevelopments of the wider Etihad Campus, a new club hotel, and the expansion of the North Stand – now named after said Catalan coach.
With that in mind, there’s so much new stuff going on over in East Manchester and arguably more of it all happening in one place than we can recall in recent memory, making it the perfect time for Cityzens to return to the famous home ground – indeed, your Etihad debut if you haven’t made one already.
Giving you greater access to areas usually reserved for players and staff only than ever, this exclusive, interactive and virtual tour will take you through the very bones of the storied sporting arena, all the way through to pitchside.
Fans can explore the dressing room and follow in the footsteps of their favourite City players as they walk through the iconic glass players’ tunnel, before walking out into the open air and sitting in the dugout to take in that incredible view.
You can also try out the latest ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ experience – an immersive VR adventure that sees supporters journey through Manchester City’s past, present, and future.
Following on from Pep lending his likeness, using innovative technology, you can now even have the chance to put your questions to Erling Haaland in the Press Conference Room.
There aren’t many teams on the planet that offer this level of stadium tour, let alone just here in the UK, so it’s no wonder they remain award-winning almost every single year.
Whether you’re a lifelong City fan, a football lover or visiting this wonderful place we call Manchester for the very first time, there’s something for everyone.
For instance, with The Medlock Hotel and accompanying Medlock Square already lining up its maiden events, the City Football Group (CFG) are once again committing to make the wider Etihad Campus an all-year-round entertainment destination.
That being said, plenty of people online have been generating a lot of buzz about the aforementioned Medlock’s new stadium-view rooms since clips appeared on social media.
Pitch view rooms coming to the Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel at #ManCity’s Etihad Stadium. 🤯
As for the tickets themselves, the club have also taken steps to keep the cost affordable.
Standard prices start from just £32 for adults and only £20 for under-16s, with larger family packages available from £60.
BUT, with the 15% discount mentioned earlier, adults currently cost just £27; kids go for just £17, and those family passes start from just £51.
You can find all the options when it comes to stadium tour passes and grab the type of admission that suits you right HERE.
Speaking of tickets, City have also been met with praise for the introduction of new discounted seats for local residents; find out all the details below.
René Meulensteen names the ‘ideal’ signing that Man United appear to be overlooking
Danny Jones
Ex-Manchester United coach René Meulensteen has named the one key signing that he feels the Red Devils are missing out on by not pursuing this summer.
The former Man United assistant, who served under Sir Alex and has recently returned to the backrooms of the English football pyramid, has given his verdict on what he thinks his old club still needs in terms of reinforcements.
Chatting with TipmanTips, the 62-year-old identified the backline as a persisting problem area for now full-time manager Michael Carrick, insisting that they could do with another central defender.
The footballer in question is his fellow countryman, Micky van de Ven – fresh from a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur – who has surprised many by not securing his next big-money move so far in the transfer window.
We are delighted to announce that Micky van de Ven has signed a new contract with the Club!
Speaking in an exclusive interview, he said his Dutch compatriot wouldn’t just be a great rotation player but a starter coming into the 2026/26 season.
“I still think they’re vulnerable at the back”, says Meulensteen, “and that’s one thing Michael is going to have to sort out as soon as possible when the season starts. Finding a centre-back partnership that works and getting some consistency in the back line will be key.
“Harry Maguire is coming off a good end to last season, but he needs some complementary centre-backs next to him, and then also on the right-hand side next to him with Mazraoui and Dalot not really doing anything.”
“I would have been looking at Micky van de Ven from Spurs before he signed a new deal. He’s powerful, he’s quick, he’s got great experience in playing as a left centre back in the Premier League, and he would have given United a very different dynamic in their defence.
He rounded off the recommendation, however late, by arguing that were Maguire to be a mainstay first-choice centre-half for Carrick this season, “van de Ven would’ve meant you wouldn’t have to worry about his lack of pace in behind, as he can cover so much ground recovering.”
As for who they have brought in so far, they’ve managed a well-balanced, albeit limited number of young and experienced talents, including the surprise return of greatest-ever goalscorers (currently 13th on the all-time list at still just 28) in Marcus Rashford.
While he did go on to cite the likes of Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke as a viable alternative, it’s fair to say he would be high up on the shortlist of many fans – and not just United.
On the other hand, we’d once again reiterate that we include ourselves among those stunned that he hasn’t had more suitors floating around of late, especially given he was one of the few bright lights among a side that nearly got relegated last term.
Would you have him as another CB option, Reds?
As for the one-time United assistant, he has recently been introduced to Stockport County FC supporters as the latest addition to the technical staff in an admittedly curious new position…
Danny Jones -
15th February 2024 
