Report: New name in the frame to succeed Dan Ashworth as talks with Manchester United continue

Dan Ashworth is currently in his garden trimming the bushes between games of EAFC on his Xbox and generally twiddling his thumbs after Newcastle United placed him on gardening leave following his request to be allowed to go to Manchester United.

Talks between the two clubs over the amount of compensation it will take to release Ashworth from purgatory continue with Newcastle starting negotiations at £20million. Manchester United are reluctant to pay such a high fee but they're going to have to find a middle ground if they want to take advantage of Ashworth's services before 2026.

Meanwhile, Newcastle continue to look for Ashworth's successor and according to The Telegraph, are now keen on Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell who has a stellar reputation in the game.

Mitchell was previously at Southampton and Tottenham

Mitchell has overseen some excellent transfer business in his time, such as bringing Sadio Mane to Southampton and Heung Min-Son to Spurs.

The 42-year-old was on the list of candidates before Dan Ashworth was appointed by the PIF shortly after the takeover. We're not sure whether that was a genuine interest or just media speculation, but it seems that this time there's some weight behind it.

It's believed that Mitchell is keen on a return to England and would be available in the summer as he's set to leave Monaco, meaning we'd have no period of gardening leave to contend with.

One of many

Newcastle are casting a wide net and aren't likely to jump into appointing someone on a whim. They'll want to make sure that whoever comes in is going to see the job through this time.

The club is also thought to be looking at boyhood Newcastle fan and current Director of Football at Brentford, Phil Giles, West Ham’s Tim Steidten and former Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto, who has expressed an interest in the vacancy. Although we aren't as keen on him as he is on us.

Richard Hughes of Bournemouth is also on the list having already worked with Eddie Howe as they brought Bournemouth through the ranks.

For what it's worth, we'd be happy with Mitchell or Giles. Whoever it is who comes in is unlikely to be handed the keys to the kingdom in the same way Ashworth was, however, which is probably for the best.