Dan Ashworth working on five Newcastle United transfers after Eddie Howe green light – pundit
Dan Ashworth is working his way through Eddie Howe’s transfer wishlist after starting his new job at Newcastle United.
That’s according to former West Ham hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 52-year-old’s first days as the club’s sporting director.
On Monday (6 June) Newcastle confirmed Ashworth had started his new job that day, following the Premier League’s approval of his move from Brighton.
24 hours later, the club’s summer overhaul began with Isaac Hayden joining Norwich City on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season.
Then, on Wednesday (8 June) Matt Targett became the club’s first summer signing following his impressive loan spell during the 2021-22 campaign.
McAvennie has been impressed with Ashowrth’s “brilliant” start to life at St James’ Park.
“He needs to have a good working relationship with Eddie Howe,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“Howe will want to rubber-stamp everything and I’m sure that will be fine. The manager has to have the final say.
“I’m sure those deals that have happened will have been signed off by Howe.
“But now he can focus on training the team instead of doing the transfers as well. Howe tells Ashworth who he wants and then he doesn’t have to worry about it.
“They will have sat down over a cup of coffee and Howe will have given him a wishlist of four or five players.
“It’s now up to Ashworth to make it all happen but he has made a brilliant start by the looks of it.”
Ashworth’s role as sporting director has been newly created at Newcastle.
He joined the club from Brighton after two and a half years on the south coast.
In other news, ex-striker swipes at Newcastle United star as £29.9million transfer breakthrough reported.