£5m release fee now blocking Newcastle’s first major piece of business this summer – Report

Last week, The Mail’s Craig Hope revealed that Dan Ashworth’s arrival at Newcastle United could be delayed until November as we are refusing to pay the compensation fee being demanded by Brighton.

He insisted that, unless we come to an agreement, our soon-to-be Director of Football would be made to see out a ‘nine-month notice period’ on the South Coast – despite the fact he’s been on gardening leave since February after agreeing to take the job on Tyneside.

In a new ‘exclusive’ released late last night, The Mail’s North-East reporter has now revealed that Brighton are demanding a £5m release fee if we wish to appoint Ashworth in time for the summer.

It seems Amanda Staveley and Co. feel this is excessive and refuse to be taken for a ride, feeling the £2m compensation fee required to take Steve Walsh from Leicester to Everton in 2016 set a precedent for such sums and makes a mockery of the Seagulls’ demands.

The Mail also report that there is ‘frustration’ from our new owners that Brighton are refusing to consider a compromise on the fee, meaning we could be made to wait for the man who is set to oversee the club’s restructuring on and off the pitch.

With that in mind ahead of a huge summer at St James’ Park, might it be wise, on this occasion, to pay the £5m and bring him in? Or would that set a dangerous precedent we’d be wise to avoid?

Decisions, decisions…