Manchester United want Dan Ashworth as their first-ever sporting director (Getty)

Manchester United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has described Newcastle United’s decision to place Dan Ashworth on gardening leave as ‘absurd’ and their £20 million compensation demand as ‘silly’.

Ratcliffe’s £1.3 billion partial takeover of United was made official on Tuesday and the petrochemicals billionaire is now looking improve the club’s hierarchy.

Ashworth has been earmarked as United’s first-ever sporting director but Newcastle United are demanding a £20m compensation fee for the 52-year-old, who was placed on gardening leave this week.

Ratcliffe believes Ashworth is ‘one of top sporting directors in the world’ and has criticised Newcastle for their approach to negotiations so far.
‘Recruitment in the modern game is critical. Manchester United have clearly spent a lot of money but they haven?t done as well as some other clubs,’ Ratcliffe said.

‘So when I was talking about being best in class in all aspects of football, recruitment is clearly top of the list.’

New Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (BBC Sport)

When asked if he is confident Ashworth will join United, Ratcliffe replied: ‘Dan Ashworth is clearly one of top sporting directors in the world. I have no doubt he is a very capable person.

‘He is interested in Manchester United because it?s the biggest c...