'Tapped up' - Manchester United’s 'ridiculous' latest offer for Newcastle chief amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe unrest

Manchester United offered just £2million for Dan Ashworth with the deadlock showing no signs of being broken, according to reports.

That figure is 10 times less than the figure Newcastle United initially quoted in February. Ashworth signalled his intention to leave and the Magpies placed a hefty price tag to release him from his contract early.

As it stands, the 53-year-old is on gardening leave until 2026 - dealing a blow to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s overhaul at Old Trafford. The minority shareholder headhunted Ashworth as first choice for sporting director and, over the weekend, bemoaned the current situation.

“It is a long journey really,” he said at the London Marathon about getting the Red Devils back on track. “One of the biggest problems is that you get these new guys to come into the (club’s senior management) team, really capable people, but they are all on gardening leave.

“So it takes you six months… a year… or eighteen months. It is a real issue in football. They can’t work for us (immediately), the fans are impatient and I have some sympathy with that.

“But it is a journey. And whether they like it or not, they have to be a bit patient. It is not a light switch. It takes a bit of time.”]

The Telegraph are now reporting that Man United offered just £2million to end Ashworth’s gardening leave. For context, Newcastle paid Brighton around £4million to poach him almost two years ago.

“£2million is ridiculous,” one Toon fan fumed on social media. “We paid £4million and his reputation has gone up since then along with him being on a longer contract.”

Another supporter outlined why Newcastle should maintain their hardball stance - forcing the Red Devils to cough up. The comment read: “It makes a lot of sense to keep him away from a rival until at least after the summer transfer window as he knows our strategy but earns less than a reserve squad player. He will remain on gardening leave until 25-26 unless fair compensation is paid for him being tapped up.”