Dan Ashworth utilising secret Newcastle weapon as Man Utd consider approach
Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth is among those utilising football's revolutionary transfer marketplace to assist winter business.
TransferRoom provides live market intelligence and direct access to a global network of key decision-makers from over 100 leagues worldwide. Crucially, their summits also enable figures like Ashworth to hold weeks' worth of meetings in one day, in one room. The Newcastle chief is a long-term advocate of TransferRoom which he also used to facilitate deals in his previous role at Brighton.
His meticulous approach to the digitalisation of the transfer market is precisely why he's recognised as one of the best directors in all of world football. The 52-year-old is now being courted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford as INEOS strive to revive Manchester United's fortunes by taking control of footballing operations.
Ashworth is perceived as the ideal candidate to succeed John Murtough, whose future remains under serious threat, while former Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus executive Jean-Claude Blanc looks poised to replace Richard Arnold as CEO.
Any approach will be met with fierce resistance at St James' Park given Ashworth's current contract does not contain a release clause. He also publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Newcastle's project in November and is currently preparing to get his hands dirty in next month's transfer window where Eddie Howe desires reinforcements following an injury-ravaged campaign.
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A new defender, midfielder, forward and possibly goalkeeper could all be on the transfer agenda for Ashworth, who must also ensure the club remains compliant with strict Financial Fair Play regulations.
Magpies' loan co-ordinator Shola Ameobi has also attended this year's TransferRoom summits alongside Ashworth to build relationships with clubs that might be interested in taking Newcastle's young stars of the future on loan.
Earlier this summer, teenage Gambian talent Yankuba Minteh was loaned to Dutch giants Feyenoord following his £8million transfer from Danish side Odense.
Gambian forward Yankuba Minteh has flourished on loan at Feyenoord following his £8m transfer to Newcastle (AFP via Getty Images)TransferRoom helped Newcastle build a strong relationship with Feyenoord sporting director Frank Arnesen as they began to explore potential loan destinations for the 19-year-old.
Once the two clubs were on the same page, Newcastle dispatched delegates to Rotterdam to make checks on the club's footballing infrastructure to establish whether it was the right footballing environment for the player's growth.
The Magpies were impressed and signed off the loan agreement - even distributing support staff to Holland to assist Minteh with his transition.
Despite a hamstring injury, Minteh has since gained indispensable Champions League experience with Feyenoord. There have even been calls from supporters to recall the attacker to help combat Newcastle's injury struggles.
Howe has since clarified that the Magpies do not possess a recall option as part of the agreement but the due diligence behind Minteh's eye-catching loan spell in the Eredivisie showcases exactly why Ashworth is among the best in the business.
He remains invaluable to Newcastle, who consider him to be a fundamental cog in their well-oiled machine.
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