Dan the man in demand as Newcast Le braced for exit
Manchester United close in on sporting director Howe admits concerns over insider knowledge Postecoglou ignores ‘chat’ about Liverpool link
The transfer window is closed but there is a big deal on the horizon in the English Premier League.
Dan Ashworth, Newcastle United's sporting director, is a wanted man. Manchester United have earmarked him as the perfect person to oversee a new era at Old Trafford in the wake of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as co-owner. There is an air of resignation on Tyneside that the former FA technical director is going to make the move.
If that's the case, Eddie Howe is confident Newcastle will protect themselves to prevent Ashworth from taking inside knowledge with him to Manchester United. He was recruited by Newcastle’s new owners from Brighton to perform a similar role 20 months ago, and his loss would represent a significant blow to their project and to their hopes of competing with a direct rival for the trophies and Champions League football they crave.
Asked if the detailed intelligence the 52-year-old possessesabouthiscurrentemployers and their blueprint was a concern, head coach Howe replied: “I think your concerns are relevant. I don’t know quite how much
I can say on that, but I share your feelings.”
He added: “It goes without saying that we’re very protective of what’s ours, whether that’s players or staff. If people do eventually move on to other clubs, there’s a process to go through before that is reality.”
Howe insisted there had, as of yesterday morning, been no formal contact between the clubs, but was candid when asked if Ashworth had told him he wanted to remain at St James’ Park amid the whirl of speculation in recent days. He said simply: “No.”
Manchester United’s interest in Ashworth, who is credited with establishing England’s
DNA during his time with the FA, is long-standing and the Magpies have been aware of the situation for some time.
They themselves prised him free from Brighton – he resigned from his role at the AMEX Stadium in February 2022, but did not take up his new post until June of the same year after lengthy negotiations which eventually resulted in a sizeable compensation payment.
United would have to enter into a similar arrangement to secure his services sooner than the terms of his contract at Newcastle stipulate, but there is an acceptance on Tyneside that matters are coming to a head and the sooner the situation is resolved, the better. Howe said: “At some stage there has to be a line drawn and things have to move forward. The club will always move forward. We’ve got some very good people in all departments doing some outstanding work that people don’t see. The club is hugely ambitious and that has never changed. I’ve got no doubt the club will be successful in the future.”
Howe’s comments came as he prepared his team for today’s Premier League clash with former club Bournemouth at St James’, a game England striker Callum Wilson will miss with a pectoral muscle injury for which he was due to undergo surgery yesterday and which is likely to sideline him for the bulk of what is left of the season, putting his Euro 2024 hopes in doubt.
Speculation is also surrounding Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou. Liverpool have reportedly placed the Australian on a shortlist of candidates to replace Jurgen Klopp in the summer, with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso seemingly at the top of the pile, but the Spurs boss insists his focus is on finishing this season strongly.
“I may be on a shortlist? I don’t think I want to say anything about that because I don’t think that’s ever going to enter my brain space for what is my priorities in life and my profession right now,” Postecoglou said ahead of today’s visit of Wolves.
“Well, I am [just getting started at Tottenham]. Not just feel — I am. I’ve only been here seven months, so that’s selfexplanatory.
“I’ve been at pains to say we’ve still got a long way to go in terms of the football we want to play, the team we want to be, the squad we want to have.
“We’ve had two positive windows, I think we’ve had a decent campaign so far, but we’ve got a long way to go.
“That’s the funny space when we talk about managers. When we’re not going well, then there’s questioning about whether we’re going to be here. When you’re potentially going OK, there’s still question about whether you’re going to be here. The reality of it is – most of it is out of our hands.
“I’m never worried. I’ve got a history of 26 years of management where you can see pretty clearly what I do. I rely on that as my explanation as to where my thought processes are with all those kind of things.
“Right now it’s about finishing the season strong with Tottenham and making sure we’re trying to establish a really strong foundation for who we want to be in the years to come. That can only happen if I’m totally focused.”
Asked if links to Liverpool were a compliment, Postecoglou added: “It depends. If it’s just people throwing up names, then who cares?
“It doesn’t matter, but at the end of the day, if I’m doing a good job then hopefully people will acknowledge that in one form or another — whatever that form is. But so-called ‘chat’, really? That’s of no interest to me.”
Tottenham take on Wolves, one of seven matches on today, the pick being Manchester City versus Chelsea at 5.30pm. Tomorrow, the Sky Sports matches are Sheffield United v Brighton and Luton Town v Manchester United, while on Monday evening, Everton take on Crystal Palace.
We’re very protective of what’s ours, whether that’s players or staff Eddie Howe