Source close to Dan Ashworth responds to Man Utd rumours on Tuesday night

According to reports on Tuesday night, Manchester United have now identified Dan Ashworth as their number one target to become the new sporting director at Old Trafford.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that a formal approach from the Red Devils is now imminent and the situation is expected to 'develop rapidly', claiming Ashworth is open to the move.

However, The Telegraph's Luke Edwards paints a slightly different picture. While there are fears from 'senior figures' at St James' Park that his head may have been turned, his piece stated - 'A source close to Ashworth stressed on Tuesday night that he is happy at Newcastle and is currently focused on the challenges ahead.'

Edwards also wrote, 'Ashworth is understood to have been irritated by the constant chatter around him leaving for Man Utd, but that does not mean he could not be tempted to leave given the prestige of the job at Old Trafford. It would also be closer to his family home in the West Midlands.'

So...is he open to the move or settled on Tyneside and in no rush to leave a project he's only just getting started on? I guess time will tell, especially if Man Utd are set to test his resolve with an official approach. Either way, some clarity on the situation is needed from Ashworth's end, as the constant links and uncertainty can't be doing us any good behind the scenes.

Should he leave, Man Utd must pay a multi-million pound compensation settlement, while a long period of gardening leave would mean he doesn't start any new role until 2025, say The Telegraph.

The 52-year-old is thought to be a close friend of Sir David Brailsford; INEOS' director of sport and one of the key figures pushing to bring him to Manchester.

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