Another twist in Man Utd's pursuit of Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth after alleged secret meeting with another Premier League club

According to The i, the 53-year-old allegedly met with Wolves in March - without informing his employers Newcastle. This was when the Magpies had placed him on gardening leave, amid his desire to join Manchester United as their new sporting director in February.

Newcastle are said to be holding out for something closer to £15 million ($19m) for Ashworth's services, but United are reportedly yet to go above £3m ($3.9m) for the former Brighton technical director. Red Devils minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe suggested Ashworth's gardening leave ends in 18 months' time but it remains to be seen if he will head to Old Trafford before then.

Ashworth rose to prominence during a stint (2012-18) as the Football Association's director of elite development - during which time he helped created the "England DNA". This was a plan that aimed to "help create winning senior teams" in the men's and women's game and is said to have facilitated the more recent upturn in results for England's national teams.

Ashworth's future is very much up in the air as he seeks to join United, with Newcastle standing firm on their valuation of the former West Brom technical director.