Dan Ashworth already knows who he wants as his No.2 (Picture: Getty)

Dan Ashworth is already thinking about his potential plans for Manchester United and wants to raid old club Brighton in one of his first moves as sporting director.

The Newcastle United chief is believed to have decided to leave St James? Park following an approach from the Red Devils to become their first-ever sporting director.

Newcastle had hoped they might be able to convince Ashworth to stay, but he wants to move to Old Trafford and already has an existing relationship with Ineos director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, who is overseeing the transition following Sir Jim Ratcliffe?s purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the club.

United will now enter into talks with Newcastle over a compensation package for Ashworth, with the Magpies expected to demand a ?significant? fee.
According to ESPN, Ashworth?s first and most significant responsibility will be rebuilding United?s scouting department ? and he already knows who he wants to head up the new structure.

Ashworth is eager to be reunited with Brighton?s head of recruitment Sam Jewell, the son of former Wigan and Bradford manager Paul Jewell, who he first encountered in 2018.

Jewell was brought in initially as the Seagulls? head of Under-21 recruitment in 2016, two years before Ashworth arrived, but has worked his way up through the ranks in the eight years since.

Ashworth will be tasked with overhauling United’s recruitment (Picture: Getty)

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