Man United make alternative transfer plans following problem over Dan Ashworth

Manchester United have changed who they now expect to make transfer negotiations this summer following a problem with their appointment of Dan Ashworth.

Manchester United want to appoint Newcastle‘s Dan Ashworth as their sporting director as part of Sir Jim Ratcilffe‘s rebuild of Old Trafford‘s high-end staff.

Having already hired Omar Berrada as the club’s new chief executive, who is due to start work in the summer, INEOS are looking to clean up the structure around Erik ten Hag to streamline operations and make more effective decisions.

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However, Newcastle have placed Ashworth on two years of gardening leave and is demanding a fee of £20 million in compensation – and the latest report suggests that both clubs are refusing to compromise.

This is according to MailOnline, which claims that both clubs are now planning for a summer transfer window without a sporting director in place. 

While it is explained that Newcastle are content with Steve Nixon, their letting head of recruitment, mastermind their summer transfer plans United are adamant they will not meet demands for £20million in compensation.

In the interim, the Old Trafford club have now decided that Berrada will take charge of negotiations this summer if the Ashworth situation is not resolved before then.

This throws a further spanner in the works, as Ashworth was meant to be one of the key figures involved in identifying new transfer targets ahead of the summer window.

United are said to be heavily having their eyes set on Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, while sources have confirmed to UtdDistrict that Amadou Onana is the current favourite choice for the midfield role.