Eddie Howe breaks Newcastle United silence amid Manchester United's Dan Ashworth interest

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe remains confident Dan Ashworth will stay put at St. James' Park for a long time to come - despite interest from Manchester United in the transfer supremo.

With investment from Sir Jim Ratcliffe still pending, The Manchester Evening News understands Ashworth is the prime target for INEOS Group to become their sporting director at United moving forward. Ashworth, 52, holds a similar position at their Premier League rivals having previously worked at Brighton.

The minority takeover headed up by Ratcliffe, 71, is worth around £1.25billion and he will, initially, work alongside the much-maligned Glazer family at Old Trafford. However, the Failsworth-born businessman is expected to be a little more hands-on when it comes to footballing matters.

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A proposed shake-up would see Ashworth brought in as sporting director with INEOS also open to retaining the club's current football director, John Murtough, in a different role, alongside further changes. Newcastle manager Howe was asked about Ashworth and United during his pre-match press conference.

He said: "Of course I've spoken to Dan, but not necessarily about that. It's very difficult to comment on speculation, whether that be a player or someone in Dan's position. I've got no doubt that Dan is here for the long term, but it's probably a question for Dan rather than me."

Howe, whose Newcastle side head to Luton tomorrow afternoon (3pm), added: "I think whenever someone is in the important role that Dan is, hugely important and he's done a really good job in helping us in loads of different ways [since being appointed].

"He