Newcastle United headlines: Dan Ashworth latest and Magpies to challenge AC Milan for Sven Botman

A look at the latest Newcastle United headlines on Friday, 27 May.

Newcastle United have made an attempt to bring in Dan Ashworth in time for the start of the summer transfer window. The Magpies have long been in negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion on a compensation package with the South Coast club.

But Ashworth remains on gardening leave and as things stand is locked in a contractual obligation until November. Newcastle 's co-owners are currently engaged in talks to end that situation as soon as possible.

Eddie Howe and his backroom staff, including head of recruitment Steve Nickson and his scouting team, have been acting as a makeshift transfer team. But with sides like Aston Villa already off and running in the summer window, which opens on June 10, Newcastle's bosses know that things need to start moving.

Dan Ashworth may be finally able to put down his trowel after Newcastle United reopened talks with Brighton.

Ashworth, of course, was put on gardening leave by the Seagulls after resigning as technical director last February to take up a new role with Newcastle, but his notice period does not run out until November. Although Newcastle's owners are determined not to be held to ransom by Brighton, it is easy to see why the Magpies have made a fresh attempt to bring in Ashworth at an earlier date.

Newcastle will spend bigger sums on players this summer, but Ashworth would be the club's most important addition if he is to arrive in the coming weeks. This is the man, after all, who will create a structure and establish an overarching philosophy in the medium to long-term as he oversees the men's first team, the women's team, player recruitment, the academy, medical and sports science, and the loan department.

Newca