Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth does have an “informal agreement” with Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope.

The journalist, who is usually pretty reliable when it comes to the Magpies, claims that Ashworth is now waiting for INEOS to make an “official approach” to Newcastle so that compensation can be agreed.

Ashworth is widely known to be INEOS’s preferred choice to head United’s football operations, with other candidates, including former RB Leipzig and Monaco transfer chief Paul Mitchell, having fallen down the list of options.

It does look as though it is only a matter of time before Ashworth does make the switch to Old Trafford, with Magpies boss Eddie Howe having said that the director hasn’t told him that he wants to stay.

Who is Dan Ashworth?

After a brief and relatively unsuccessful playing career, the Englishman became an academy manager at various teams, including Peterborough, Cambridge United and West Brom.

Ashworth’s reputation increased when he was appointed England’s director of elite development in 2012. He spent six years with the Three Lions before moving to Brighton. After four successful seasons on the south coast, he joined Newcastle following the club’s takeover by PIF.

The 52-year-old has a reputation for revamping recruitment departments and improving youth development. INEOS see him as a perfect fit for their project at United.

Who else are United and INEOS looking to hire?

Two other names have been mentioned as potential additions to the scouting team recently. Southampton’s Director of Football Jason Wilcox and Brighton’s Head of Scouting Sam Jewell are also being targeted.

Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’s minority stake was approved by the Premier League and FA earlier this week, they have wasted very little time in trying to bring in talented people who can realise their vision for the club.