Report: Newcastle are now looking towards Portugal to recruit Dan Ashworth's successor

Dan Ashworth's move to Manchester United edges closer as talks between Newcastle United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's team roll on in the background.

Meanwhile, Newcastle continue to make a list of potential candidates to replace the former Brighton man at St James' Park with several names already being reportedly in the mix.

Today The Sunday Times has thrown another name in the frame and it's one that should get Newcastle fans excited.

According to the report in The Times Newcastle have identified Benfica's sporting director Rui Pedro Braz as an ideal candidate.

Rui Pedro Braz is the latest name to be linked with Newcastle's sporting director role

Braz hasn't been in the job long but already has a stunning track record helping Benfica to the Portuguese league title in his first season while also bringing in over £200million in transfer fees on the sales of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool and Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea.

The Times claims Braz was in London recently during the international break where Odgers Berndtson, working on behalf of Newcastle United, took full advantage and interviewed him about the position.

Benfica have brought through some exciting young talent and turned them into multi-million-pound players while continuing on their path to success. It's a model that might annoy some Newcastle fans as we do tend to get a bit attached to our top players, but if we're turning huge profits on players like Benfica are, that can only lead to us bringing in even better talent, surely.

Newcastle need someone who will see the project through

There are still plenty of other people under consideration for the role as Newcastle look to get it right this time and find someone who will be around for the long term.

Amanda Staveley always outlined a long-term project from the day the takeover went through, and to do that we need stability in the boardroom and a sporting director committed to the cause, not one who is going to run at the first sign of another offer. DANIEL!

Hopefully, the process won't drag on too long, although we expect that Eddie Howe and the current team behind him will have to navigate the summer transfer window on their own.