NEWCASTLE have put Bournemouth’s transfer chief Richard Hughes on top of their hitlist.
The Toon are braced for a call that will take their sporting director Dan Ashworth to Manchester United once the protracted buy-in by Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes place.
Ashworth, 52, is first choice for the football supremo role should Ratcliffe and sidekick Sir Dave Brailsford finally take 25 per cent of Old Trafford.
The Red Devils could offer Ashworth a role that could convince him to quit Newcastle barely a year after joining.
Newcastle can place Ashworth on gardening leave for an extended period of time — as Brighton did when they lost him — but they would need a top replacement.
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And Cherries technical director Hughes’ name is on the lips of many on Tyneside.
Manager Eddie Howe would be delighted as the pair were close at Bournemouth.
Scot Hughes, 44, has helped the Cherries develop in the past few years and now could be the right time to join one of the top-flight giants.
Ashworth would be joined by another scouting supremo at Old Trafford, so the door is also open there for the likes of ex-Tottenham recruiter Paul Mitchell or Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman to come in.
Struggling Man Utd currently sit seventh in the Premier League table with 27 points from 16 games.
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They also crashed out of the Champions League this week after finishing fourth in their group for the first time ever.
United chiefs have been heavily criticised for their recruitment in recent years, so incoming co-owner Ratcliffe is expected to make some major internal changes.