Dan Ashworth fee goes public as Yasir Al-Rumayyan steps in before Man Utd switch
by Olly Hawkins · 5 July 2024, 09:31
Newcastle United have received a compensation package of £10m for Dan Ashworth following his eventual move to Manchester United.
It was well documented that the club were initially holding out for £20m to release our former sporting director from a period of agreed gardening leave, yet Jim Ratcliffe's Red Devils went nowhere near that figure. It's believed Man Utd made a 'take it or leave it' offer of £3m last month after previously bidding just £2m; the fee Newcastle paid Brighton to land Ashworth two years ago.
However, as revealed by the i's Matt Hughes, it's thought a £10m package has now been agreed, with PIF governor and Newcastle Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan 'adamant' that Ashworth would only leave on our terms.
It's reported that Al-Rumayyan felt 'personally affronted' by Ashworth's 'professions of ignorance', with the Saudi chief also branding Ratcliffe's initial offer of £2m as an insult.
In the end, it seems both clubs have met in the middle and agreed a £10m deal to ensure we can move on - as we have done with the appointment of Paul Mitchell - and Man Utd can stop moaning and have their man, but it feels like we've come out winning, securing £10m for a director we paid £2m for and landing Mitchell for free following his exit from Monaco.
