Report: Newcastle are being 'particularly alert' to anything Dan Ashworth is doing while on gardening leave

Dan Ashworth remains on gardening leave at Newcastle United after requesting to leave in order to join Manchester United.

The Magpies board wasted no time in putting the sporting director into the wilderness while the two clubs hash out a deal over a release fee with Newcastle standing firm on their request for £20million.

Manchester United refuse to part with that much money so Ashworth remains in limbo, much to the delight of Newcastle fans who are taking a strange kind of pleasure in how long this whole thing is taking to come to an end.

Newcastle continue to search for Ashworth's replacement and it is felt that when they find their man it will likely speed up Ashworth's departure as they won't want to be paying two people to do one job, especially when one isn't actually doing it.

Manchester United are waiting on two big pieces of the puzzle

Until that time arrives though, The Athletic have claimed that Newcastle are being very vigilant and making sure that nothing Dan Ashworth is doing could be construed as working for Manchester United.

Quite what they'd do if Ashworth was found to be working for the enemy, we're not sure, but we dare bet it wouldn't go well for him or Manchester United.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is slowly assembling his board at Manchester United and Dan Ashworth, along with incoming chief executive Omar Berrada are both on gardening leave meaning they can't put the final pieces of the puzzle in place.

Newcastle's hunt for Ashworth's replacement continues

Meanwhile, more names are popping up linked to Newcastle with Paulo Maldini the latest name in the frame.

Even former Newcastle winger Hugo Viana has found his name linked with the job, but it's believed that Paul Mitchell is the favourite.

The former Monaco DoF has a stellar reputation in the game and would be a brilliant coup for Newcastle.