Kieran Maguire reveals price Man United will pay to hire Dan Ashworth immediately
It will cost Man United a fee in the ‘low millions’ to cut Dan Ashworth’s gardening leave short and hire him from Newcastle United immediately.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that the fee will be similar to the £5million Newcastle paid to hire Ashworth from Brighton.
Ashworth has been made a top priority by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team since their minority takeover at Old Trafford.
As revealed by Football Insider, Ashworth has agreed terms with United and has informed Newcastle staff that he is leaving for the Red Devils.
It is understood that he has been offered a sporting director role at United as part of the club’s behind-the-scenes rebuild under Ratcliffe.
However, he is set to go on a long period of gardening leave unless United pay a significant fee to hire him immediately.
Man United have to pay huge Dan Ashworth ‘transfer fee’
Maguire believes Newcastle will do everything in their control to make it ‘as difficult and as expensive’ for Ratcliffe to complete the deal.
“I think Man United will likely have to pay a fee in the low millions to cut Ashworth’s gardening leave short,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Newcastle had to pay a similar fee to get Dan Ashworth early in respect of his contract at Brighton.
“So there’s always a release fee in these contracts.
“Dan is held in high regard and Newcastle ideally want to keep hold of his services – they certainly don’t want him to join a rival.
“So they’re going to make it as difficult and as expensive for Manchester United as they can and that’s perfectly understandable from a business point of view.“
In other news, Dan Ashworth to be handed £450m war chest as Man United deal agreed
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