Newcastle hold all the cards as Devils look to get Ashworth

SIR Jim Ratcliffe has admitted that Manchester United need to get the ‘right people in the right boxes’ as the Red Devils attempt to cut short Dan Ashworth’s gardening leave at Newcastle United.

Manchester United have held talks with Newcastle since Ashworth informed the Magpies that he wished to leave the club last month after less than two years at St James’ Park.

Newcastle initially demanded an eight-figure compensation package of up to £20m to end Ashworth’s length notice period and Sir Jim branded that figure ‘silly’ and said it was ‘absurd’ that the 53-year-old could be sidelined for the best part of two years if Manchester United do not pay up.

Sir Jim has not made any further comment since then, but Manchester United’s need for Ashworth is clear as the club’s part-owner and INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford attempt to close the gap on the top in just two or three seasons.

“Football is football,” he told the Geraint Thomas cycling club podcast. “It’s different. Dave wouldn’t profess to ever say, ‘We need to buy that player because I think he’s a very good player’.

“Dave would never do that because that’s not his skillset, but we need to make sure that we have got that skillset at Manchester United.”

He added: “The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players. The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes who are managing and organising the club and make sure we get recruitment right. That is such a vital part of football today.”