Newcastle United are back in the eye of the storm as Manchester United eye Magpies sports director Dan Ashworth.
The Red Devils have identified the supremo as their number one target amid the minority takeover from INEOS, backed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Erik ten Hag is still in charge at Old Trafford, but there has already been a significant shift in leadership. Omar Berrarda was recently designated the club’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the Premier League confirmed the takeover on Tuesday.
As far as Chronicle Live is aware, Ashworth has not received any approaches thus far, and if he decides to transfer to the Northwest, he will likely be placed on gardening leave. The 52-year-old is well-liked for his work at Brighton & Hove Albion and his commercial dealings at St. James’ Park after Saudi Arabia’s PIF took possession.
Though it’s unclear if their Premier League opponents will make a move, talks behind closed doors will undoubtedly be continuing as they get ready to minimize damage in the event that Ashworth leaves. Apart from the former head of Brighton, there are many more sporting directors worldwide who would be drawn to the idea of advancing Newcastle’s European ascent.
Paul Mitchell
Paul Mitchell is the most recent sporting director to be mentioned in relation to several of the Premier League’s elite teams. Among the names that have been suggested for the 42-year-old are Liverpool and Manchester United.
According to recent rumors, Man United was one of the teams considering hiring Mitchell to take charge of football operations. Additionally, the chief, who was born in Stalybridge, has an impressive portfolio after leading AS Monaco to Ligue 1 third-place finishes despite losing some of their top players to the largest spenders in Europe.
In October of last year, Mitchell decided to leave the Principality because he thought he had achieved his goals there. Some sections of the French media have speculated that Mitchell may take over at AS Roma, but if he wants to move up to the Premier League, this opportunity at Newcastle might be the best move for him.
In addition, it was said that United was keeping a careful eye on the 42-year-old after their interactions over the years, with Nice-owned INEOS obtaining a good look at his methods.
Tiago Pinto
Another well-known figure in the field of sporting directors is Portuguese chief Tiago Pinto. He accomplished a fantastic job at Benfica, helping them fetch outrageous prices for some of their best players, including as Ederson, Ruben Dias, and Joao Felix. However, despite winning the first Europa Conference League, he was unable to duplicate the success at the Stadio Olimpico with AS Roma.
Furthermore, Pinto has entertained the notion of working for the Premier League himself. In an interview with The Athletic, he stated: “Players, coaches, and executives all want to be in this league.”
“It is the world’s best.” I’d like to go through that. Either now or later. Right now, reliving my feelings from Benfica and my trip to Roma is crucial. the commitment to and alignment with the club’s membership. I’m prepared for everything after Roma.
Tim Steidten
The Magpies could pursue their interest in another Premier League club’s technical director. After his successes with Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen, Tim Steidten entered the English top division in the summer with a great deal of respect, having laid the groundwork for the latter team’s title challenge this year.
There are already rumors that the German is drawing interest from Premier League teams, particularly Liverpool. With Jurgen Klopp departing, the Merseyside club must rebuild themselves off the field, and there is a vacancy in the role of sporting director.
Additionally, the 44-year-old called his connections to Anfield a “honour”. “I’ve heard that I should be on the list at Liverpool,” he remarked. It’s an honor because it’s one of the largest clubs in the world. However, I haven’t heard from any Liverpool people yet.
“At West Ham, I usually feel really at ease. I was soon struck by how competitive this league is. We thus acquired the appropriate players during the most recent transfer windows. We can accomplish our ambitions because we have a great squad.
“Until the end of the season, I am excited for the upcoming weeks and months. Naturally, we are already preparing for the upcoming window (at West Ham). We’ll see what occurs in the future.
Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards, a former supremo at Liverpool, left the Premier League scene abruptly in 2022 and hasn’t been seen since. He has since attracted the interest of Manchester United, according to speculative reports, and it was stated that the team contacted him to lure him back after Jurgen Klopp’s surprise revelation.
Edwards has reconstructed clubs before, having worked with the league leaders. If he were to take that job, Newcastle’s task wouldn’t be as daunting as it is at Old Trafford, arguably, because the groundwork has already been laid at St James’ Park.
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