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Tag: Newcastle United

  • Dan Ashworth Joins Manchester United as Sporting Director

    Dan Ashworth Joins Manchester United as Sporting Director

     

    Manchester United has confirmed the appointment of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director following an agreement with Newcastle United. The two Premier League clubs issued a joint statement on Monday announcing Ashworth’s release from his contract at St. James’ Park.

    Earlier this year, the 53-year-old Ashworth was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle after expressing his desire to move to Old Trafford. While no compensation details have been disclosed, it is understood that Ashworth will assume his new role at Manchester United immediately.

    The statement read, “Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United. The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.”

    United’s interest in Ashworth emerged after Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS company acquired a minority stake in the club and took over football operations. Despite reports that Newcastle initially sought £20 million ($25 million) in compensation—a figure Ratcliffe described as “a bit silly”—a compromise was reached.

    Ashworth, previously technical director at the Football Association, is the latest addition to Manchester United’s overhauled backroom staff. Omar Berrada is joining from Manchester City as chief executive, and Jason Wilcox, previously at Southampton, is the new technical director.

    Speaking earlier this year, Ratcliffe praised Ashworth, saying, “I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world. I’ve no doubt he’s a very, very capable person. And 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.”

    Manchester United ended a disappointing campaign last season by winning the FA Cup, defeating Manchester City in the final. Despite facing significant pressure, manager Erik ten Hag will remain at the club, preparing for his third season in charge.

  • Bentaleb joins Newcastle United on loan from Schalke 04

    Bentaleb joins Newcastle United on loan from Schalke 04

    Injury-hit Newcastle United have signed Algeria international midfielder Nabil Bentaleb on loan till the end of the season from Bundesliga side Schalke 04 with an option to make the move permanent.

    No financial details were given but a report said the deal would cost Newcastle United around 850,000 pounds (1.11 million dollars) with the option set at 8.5 million dollars.

    The 25-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur player told the Newcastle United website he was happy to be returning to English football.

    “I wanted absolutely to come back to the English Premier League (EPL). The coach had some trust in me and the club also — I saw that straight away — and I think it’s the perfect move for me,” he said.

    Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce said he had followed Bentaleb, who was dropped from the Schalke 04 first team for disciplinary reasons last March, from the player’s time at Spurs.

    “He’s played at the highest level now for the last four or five years but he will come in hungry and feeling he has something to prove and will give us the competition we obviously need,” he said.

    “We know that he can play and knows what the demands of the Premier League are. He’s gone from the Premier League to Schalke 04 and played in the UEFA Champions League as well. So, we’re delighted to get him. It’s a great signing.”

    Newcastle United are 12th in the league but have nine players injured.

    Bruce said on Monday that centre-back Paul Dummett and on-loan left back Jetro Willems were out for the rest of the season.

    The manager remained hopeful the club could complete a loan deal for Inter Milan winger Valentino Lazaro this week.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Leicester City score 3 goals to sink Newcastle United

    Leicester City score 3 goals to sink Newcastle United

    Leicester City Football Club striker Ayoze Perez came back to haunt former team Newcastle United on Wednesday, with a goal and an assist for midfielder James Maddison.

    His efforts helped the Foxes to ease to a 3-0 victory and cut the gap to runaway 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) leaders Liverpool.

    The win meant that Brendan Rodgers’ second-placed side have 45 points from 21 matches, 10 points behind Liverpool who have two games in hand and host Sheffield United on Thursday.

    Leicester made light of Jamie Vardy’s absence due to a calf injury as Perez pounced on a poor pass across the back line from Newcastle United defender Florian Lejeune.

    He rode a tackle from Fabian Schar before slotting past Martin Dubravka in the 36th minute.

    Lejeune was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons again as his poor clearance found its way to Perez who fed Maddison three minutes later.

    The England international blasted in a left-footed shot from distance.

    The double blow came shortly after Newcastle United had missed the chance to take the lead through Brazilian forward Joelinton.

    He had sprinted onto a pass over the top of the Leicester City defence but failed to beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel with two attempts.

    With Newcastle United reduced to 10 men after using up their three substitutions and Schar unable to play due to injury, Leicester City made it 3-0 in the 87th minute.

    They scored through Hamza Choudhury who curled in a shot from outside the penalty area.(Reuters/NAN)