Dan Ashworth &#8211; CaughtOffside

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That begs the question do Man United need to spend £50m on Ferguson? Other areas in Erik ten Hag’s squad need more urgent addressing and it is unlikely that the Irishman will leave Brighton this summer off the back of a poor campaign.

The Manchester club should be patient and see how the 19-year-old performs this season and if they still want the striker, then make a move for the player in 2025.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ruthless streak continues as Man United’s £82m ace set for loan move

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 04:38:31 +0000

If Man United supporters wanted to see just how keen Sir Jim Ratcliffe was to turning around the club, and whether initial statements attributed to him were going to be followed through, they’ve already had their answer this summer.

Joshua Zirkzee was expected to move to AC Milan from Bologna, whilst the smart money was on Lille’s brilliant centre-back, Leny Yoro, moving to Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

However, both have ended up at United, suggesting that, finally, the business being conducted by the footballing arm of the club is commensurate with their position as one of the best and most storied institutions in the game.

Man United willing to loan Antony

That also applies to players going the other way.

No more procrastinating. If the likes of Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth feel that a player no longer has anything to add, they’ll be eased towards the exit door.

Man United are willing to send Antony out on loan

Erik ten Hag’s new contract shows he’s on board with the new way of working, even if that’s going to include loaning out £82m man, Antony, per ESPN, a player that the Dutchman insisted on signing after working with him at Ajax.

Antony is the second most expensive signing in United’s history, behind only Paul Pogba, but has never come close to justifying ten Hag’s faith in him.

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Sir Jim and his team are believed to have conducted a thorough assessment of the club’s transfer business over recent years, and the mini clear out that has already occurred is clearly as a result of that.

As long as any club interested in Antony are willing to cover his wages for the period of any loan deal, then his sale will be authorised.

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Here we go – Highly-rated Man United ace set for La Liga switch says Romano

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 07:42:37 +0000

Man United are certainly getting busy in the transfer market as we head towards the first friendlies of pre-season.

With Dan Ashworth finally having had his move to Old Trafford rubber stamped, the sporting director, along with first-team manager Erik ten Hag, can finally get to work on the multitude of incoming and outgoing transfers that evidently need attention.

A deal for Joshua Zirkzee is known to have been agreed, whilst it would appear to be only a matter of time before the club can sign off on a long-term contract for Matthijs de Ligt.

Man United’s Kambwala to sign for Villarreal

It’s perhaps that club’s insistence on signing de Ligt, who was ten Hag’s captain at Ajax at just 19 years of age, that has seen Willy Kambwala decide it’s time to leave Old Trafford.

Kambwala made his Premier League bow last season under ten Hag, but only went on to manage 10 appearances in all competitions (WhoScored) of which just two were for the full 90 minutes.

?? Villarreal are closing in on deal to sign Willy Kambwala from Manchester United!

Understand it will be a permanent transfer for fee around €10m for 2004 born CB.

The deal also includes a future buy-back clause for Man United.

Final details then… here we go, soon ? pic.twitter.com/ZHZp96hPgq

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2024

According to CaughtOffside columnist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Kambwala will now try his luck in La Liga.

Villarreal are closing in on a deal to sign him for €10m, and United will have a buyback clause inserted in the deal.

It will bring the curtain down on a United career that promised much, though as so often happens these days, clubs are looking for players that can make an immediate impact and clearly Kambwala needed to be eased in.

Ten Hag has made a habit of signing players that he’s worked with before (Antony and Andre Onana to name but two), and there do appear to have been question marks over that way or working.

If Willy Kambwala does well for the Yellow Submarine next season and potentially beyond, and de Ligt doesn’t hit the ground running, that will call the Dutchman’s judgment and credibility into question once again.

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Englishman set to join Newcastle at Paul Mitchell’s request

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:27:42 +0000

Ahead of the new Premier League season, Newcastle United are putting the building blocks in place to ensure they can improve on their showing in 2023/24.

Having to negotiate a Champions League campaign on top of their domestic commitments last season took its toll, with a number of first-team players out injured and some for long periods.

Newcastle set to land Paul Mitchell’s former Monaco colleague

The summer has given Eddie Howe and his backroom staff the chance to do a hard reset, which has also included the loss of sporting director, Dan Ashworth.

Far from wallowing in their own self pity at losing a man who was seemingly as important to the Magpies as Howe, the club quickly brought in Paul Mitchell, and he is believed to have requested the hire of James Bunce, according to Daily Mail journalist and Newcastle insider, Craig Hope.

? Exclusive: James Bunce (ex Monaco performance director) will be joining new sporting director Paul Mitchell at NUFC as restructuring of hierarchy continues. It’s likely his role will be director of performance.

— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) July 11, 2024

Bunce worked with Mitchell whilst the pair were at Ligue Un side, AS Monaco, and Bunce’s hire will surely only serve to strengthen Newcastle as the club move forward.

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Man United not changing doomed transfer strategy despite bringing in three new directors

Mark Brus — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 13:20:09 +0000

Manchester United are reportedly still giving Erik ten Hag a lot of control over transfers and pursuing his preferred targets despite the appoint of three new directors in the form of Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell in the last few months.

Wilcox is the new technical director at Man Utd, while Ashworth is the sporting director, and Vivell is the director of global talent, but it seems all that expertise might not be put to much use after all.

According to the Manchester Evening News, these directors still seem mainly to be in the business of delivering the players Ten Hag wants, which has not exactly been a successful strategy so far.

Ten Hag transfers haven’t worked out for Manchester United

The Dutch tactician has brought in some big names who shone under him at his previous club Ajax, such as Antony and Lisandro Martinez, but the latter has had injury troubles and the former has proven a major flop.

Other signings such as Andre Onana, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat have also been poor, while it’s worth noting that Jadon Sancho looked superb after being forced out by Ten Hag and going out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

Erik ten Hag of Manchester United

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Ten Hag probably isn’t the man who should have so much say over transfers and identifying talent, so it will be interesting to see if this new-look board can at some point exert a bit more influence and perhaps broaden the club’s horizons.

United have majorly lagged behind rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal on this front in recent years, with those two clubs spending far less on players but getting much better value in the market.

Much of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era is characterised by expensive flops such as Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria, Harry Maguire, Sancho and Antony, and fans will no doubt have been hoping that the likes of Wilcox and Ashworth could help change this.

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Dan Ashworth already flexing his muscles at Man United with stunning Bruno Fernandes decision

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 04:28:42 +0000

He’s not officially been in the job for long but Dan Ashworth already looks to be the new broom sweeping clean at Man United.

The sporting director can now get to work at Old Trafford after an agreement was finally reached with Newcastle United, and Ashworth, as much as anyone at the club, will become a hugely important figure over the next weeks and months.

Along with the likes of Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, he will help shape the future of the club under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Man United could sell Bruno Fernandes

Clearly, there are some big decisions that need to be made in order for the Red Devils to progress, and one of those would appear to relate to captain, Bruno Fernandes.

According to Mirror Sport, although the Portuguese is expected to sign a new deal at the club, they will listen to offers for him.

Bruno Fernandes to leave Manchester United?

At 29 years of age, Fernandes still has a number of years left in the game so an acknowledgment that the club would be willing to cash in if the right offer arrived brings Financial Fair Play into sharp focus once again.

The cat will really be put amongst the pigeons should such an offer be made to the club, given that any finances from player sales would be expected to be reinvested into the playing squad.

As one of the senior members of the squad, Fernandes could command a significant fee, thus strengthening United’s bargaining power in the transfer market.

Whether or not he stays or goes, it’s clear that this is a time of great change for the Red Devils, with the pressure once again on Erik ten Hag to deliver on the pitch with the hand that he gets dealt by the powers that be.

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Man United agree deal for Newcastle United man in a major coup for Red Devils

Ahad Shaukat — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 08:20:28 +0000

Manchester United and Newcastle United have reached an agreement on a compensation plan for Dan Ashworth’s move to Old Trafford.

Although Ashworth emerged as the club’s first choice, it has been months since Man United expressed interest in employing him. The 53-year-old has been in northeast England since May 2022.

The Athletic claims that the Red Devils and Newcastle have finally reached an agreement for Ashworth to take charge of the Premier League giants.

The highly-regarded sporting director is anticipated to start his role in the updated Man United hierarchy with immediate effect.

After a breakthrough in negotiations, the former head of Brighton and the Football Association is now expected to be named as the club’s new sporting director.

The new co-owner of Man United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has made no secret of the difficulty in reaching an agreement with the Toons and has accused Newcastle of being difficult.

Omar Berrada, the club’s new chief executive who was lured away from Manchester City last season, will join Ashworth at Old Trafford later this month.

Man United finally agree a deal to appoint Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United.

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After the arrival of Ratcliffe, changes have been made in the backroom staff at the club and the hierarchy.

The British billionaire is determined to take the club back to their successful period when they challenged for the biggest trophies every season.

Dan Ashworth is expected to transform Man United

Along with changes in the non-playing staff, the Red Devils are expected to bring in a number of new signings at the club.

Ashworth will be given the responsibility to lead the recruitment process of the Red Devils and the opportunity to show similar success that he showed at St. James’ Park.

Man United will make several signings this summer but this one could be their most important one.

After sorting out the future of Erik ten Hag and agreeing a deal to appoint Ashworth, they can now focus on their transfer business.

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Man United facing transfer window disadvantage amid delay securing £20m man

Mark Brus — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:16:03 +0000

Manchester United are reportedly facing the blow of their recruitment team not being fully up to speed this summer as Newcastle hold firm over Dan Ashworth.

The Magpies are demanding £20million to let Ashworth leave and join Man Utd, which could mean the club are not fully able to do everything they’d like this summer, according to ESPN.

Ashworth has impressed at Newcastle and other previous roles, so it’s not too surprising the Red Devils want him as an ideal candidate to come in for a director role.

United’s recruitment has been poor for many years now, with the club blowing large sums of cash on numerous flop signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Ashworth is surely the kind of figure they need to help them catch up with rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal, who have tended to do get more out of their signings despite often spending less money on transfer fees and wages.

Dan Ashworth to Manchester United move has been delayed

Ashworth to Man United delay could hurt the club in the transfer market

According to ESPN, sources have said that club bosses accept the recruitment “will not be up to full speed” without Ashworth, but it seems there’s little progress being made on efforts to get him through the door at Old Trafford.

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The report states that Newcastle want £20m for Ashworth, and while that’s clearly a lot of compensation to pay, it could perhaps be a smart long-term investment if it helps really turn the club around in the transfer market.

MUFC can’t continue as they are, with more poor signings in the last couple of years, such as Mason Mount, Antony and Andre Onana, so even if they won’t want to pay £20m for Ashworth, it might actually end up saving them money in the long run if he can come in and sort out their transfer business sooner.

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Dan Ashworth and Manchester United now find themselves in major trouble

Jake Staniland — Thu, 30 May 2024 20:22:11 +0000

Dan Ashworth finds himself embroiled in a complex web of legal and ethical issues that threaten to tarnish his reputation, deplete his bank balance, and jeopardise his career.

The controversy centers on his interactions with Omar Berrada, an executive making a controversial switch from Manchester City to their arch-rivals, Manchester United.

In early February, while Ashworth was still actively employed, he engaged in a conversation with Berrada, who was on gardening leave from Manchester City. Berrada’s covert work for Manchester United, using an INEOS email address to contact Ashworth, raises serious contractual and ethical questions.

The fact that this communication was blind copied to Ashworth’s Newcastle United email further complicates matters.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe celebrates winning the FA Cup.

Manchester United could face tapping-up charges while Dan Ashworth could be in breach of gardening leave laws

Berrada’s actions are a clear breach of his contract with Manchester City, exposing him to potential legal action. More critically, Manchester United could face tapping-up charges by the Premier League, a serious allegation that could result in significant sanctions. Tapping-up, the act of making an illegal approach to a player or staff member under contract with another club, has previously led to severe punishments, including transfer bans.

Historically, tapping-up incidents in the Premier League have led to transfer bans. Should Manchester United be found guilty, they could face similar repercussions. The severity of any ban would be determined by the League’s independent judgment panel, whose decisions are often unpredictable and influenced by the specifics of each case.

A more immediate concern for Ashworth is his potential breach of gardening leave. Gardening leave is a common practice in the UK, particularly for high-level executives. It stipulates that during a specified period, an employee cannot work for or establish a business that competes with their former employer.

Ashworth’s actions, if proven, represent a clear violation. Although not a criminal offense, such breaches are serious civil matters and could lead to substantial legal and financial consequences. The fact that Ashworth was placed on gardening leave so swiftly suggests that Newcastle United did not consent to his activities, indicating a failure to act in good faith.

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Newcastle furious as Dan Ashworth tries to force early move to Manchester United

Mark Brus — Wed, 22 May 2024 09:27:15 +0000

Newcastle United are reportedly furious with Dan Ashworth as he seems set to make an extraordinary effort to get out of his gardening leave with the club and make an early move to Manchester United.

Ashworth supposedly believes he can make a case that he was sacked by Newcastle, meaning there would be no grounds for him to go on a lengthy gardening leave instead of immediately taking up a role at Man Utd, according to the Telegraph.

The report adds that Newcastle are furious and feel misled by Ashworth, with the Magpies now possibly set to seek talks with the Red Devils to resolve the matter after previously failing to reach an agreement on compensation.

NUFC wanted £20m to cut short Ashworth’s gardening leave, but United came nowhere near to matching that, offering just £3m instead, so it’s not clear what will happen next as the two clubs look to finally put this saga to an end.

Ashworth looks like he could be a crucial figure for Manchester United

Ashworth has long impressed in director roles at Newcastle and other clubs, so it’s hardly surprising that a big name like United are now keen to snap him up as they urgently need to rebuild and smarten up their whole recruitment strategy.

MUFC have been lagging behind their rivals in recent years, spending vast sums of money on various flop signings, while they’ve also hired and fired a lot of different managers in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

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