'It's absurd for Dan Ashworth to sit in his garden for a year': Sir Jim Ratcliffe hits out at Newcastle

Newcastle United are refusing to let Dan Ashworth leave unless Manchester United pay a hefty compensation for his release.

Negotiations have dragged on for months, as per the Manchester Evening News, while Dan Ashworth continues to be on gardening leave.

In a recent interview quoted by the MEN, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has alluded to the fact that they expect Ashworth to leave once his gardening leave - 12 months approximately - is complete.

Ratcliffe is clearly not pleased with negotiations, stating: "We'll have to see how it unfolds.

"What I do think is completely absurd, is suggesting a man [Ashworth] who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.

"We had a very grown-up conversation with [Manchester] City about Omar [Berrada].

"When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge."

Ashworth is set to succeed John Murtough, who has announced his resignation, as Man United's director of football.

How can Man United be affected by slow talks for Dan Ashworth? Fabrizio Romano explains