Journalist Luke Edwards has predicted when exactly Dan Ashworth will leave Newcastle United as Man United’s interest persists.
News broke yesterday that Newcastle have the option to place Ashworth on a 20-month gardening period leave or demand a fee of £20m from Man United who are unwilling to pay.
Edwards has now predicted on X that Ashworth will join Man United officially in 2025 but that they will be forced to pay a significant compensation fee to Newcastle.
Newcastle prepare to lose Ashworth
Ashworth has already made it very clear that he wants to join Man United and any possible future with Newcastle now looks to be over as it’s just a matter of time until he departs.
However, Newcastle still hold a lot of the power as the 52-year-old could potentially have to wait until the January window of 2026 before he can get started in his new role at Old Trafford.
There is, of course, the alternative option where Man United pay the fee of £20m, which could actually be higher if Newcastle wanted to demand more, though they are adamant that they won’t be paying it.
For Newcastle, it’s certainly disappointing news given that Ashworth was meant to be there for the long-term, but they will have to now prepare to bring in a replacement to take the club into the new era.
On social media, Edwards posted: “Man United will start to negotiate with Newcastle. Gardening leave currently prevents Ashworth playing any role in a transfer window until Jan 2026. They will eventually reach a settlement. My prediction is a 2025 start and expensive compensation compromise.”
Newcastle finally hold the power over Man United
After years if not decades of being bullied by the bigger and more successful football clubs, Newcastle now have something that Man United want and they have no reason to let him go so easily.
In years gone by Newcastle would have likely accepted a small fee for Ashworth who, like so many players before him, has stated his desire to leave for another club.
The hope is obviously that in five to 10 years time it will be Newcastle attracting all of the top talent both in terms of players and behind the scenes figures and that they won’t have to lose out to those above them.
It’s frustrating for Newcastle who will have had a long-term plan set out for this project that they will now have to reconsider was a new name enters the picture, but it’s certainly something the can adapt to and whatever fee they receive for Ashworth will be a big help going forwards.
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