Man Utd hit stumbling block in pursuit of sporting director Dan Ashworth | Football

Shortly after becoming United minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe earmarked Newcastle chief Ashworth to become the club’s first ever sporting director.

The highly-rated 52-year-old has agreed a deal to move to Old Trafford but the two clubs are yet to agree on a compensation package, with the furious Magpies placing him on gardening leave.

It was reported that Newcastle wanted a staggering £20million – £15m up front and the rest in add-ons – and they are not wavering on that figure.

The Telegraph now claim that the Red Devils have proposed a compensation package worth only around £2m and with talks struggling to progress the chances of Ashworth moving before the summer are very slim.

‘What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.

‘We had a very grown up conversation with [Manchester] City about Omar Berrada. When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge.

‘You look at Pep [Guardiola] and when he’s done with one of his footballers he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works.’

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