Manchester United are standing firm regarding their pursuit of Dan Ashworth.

The Newcastle United sporting director wants to move to the Old Trafford club.

He has been placed on gardening leave by the Magpies, but wants to move to Man United sooner.

Per the Manchester Evening News, United are not willing to pay Newcastle a mega compensation claim.

"I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world, I've no doubt," new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe said last month.

"He's a very capable person. He's interested in the Manchester United job because it's probably the biggest sporting director job in the world just now, with the biggest challenge.

"It would be different if you were the sporting director at Manchester City because you would just be maintaining a level, at Manchester United you've got quite a significant building job. I think he would be a very good addition to Manchester United but he needs to decide whether he's going to make that jump.

"We've obviously had words with Newcastle. They would clearly be disappointed to lose Dan. Newcastle have been very, very successful, they've done really well since the new ownership, they play some good football and it's transformed the club. I understand why they would be disappointed to lose Dan.

"But then you can't equally criticize Dan. It is a transient industry. It's not like my world of chemicals, nobody ever goes from DOW to Ineos, you stay where you are. Football is transient. But you would understand why Dan is interested. It's the ultimate challenge for a sporting director so we'll have to see how it unfolds.

"It's a bit silly, personally. I won't get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one-and-a-half years. That's completely stupid."