Dan Ashworth left Brighton & Hove Albion last month after having worked as the Seagulls’ technical director for two years.
The 50-year-old is now in contention to become Newcastle United’s director of football and reports coming out of England insist this remains an open secret now.
Prior to deciding on Ashworth, the Tyneside club looked at other options and among them is Tim Steidten, according to Sport1. He is the head of scouting at Bayer Leverkusen.
Steidten is supported by a team of eight, led by chief scout Kim Falkenberg, and ‘works closely’ with Leverkusen chiefs Rudi Völler and Simon Rolfes. He primarily has his sights set on ‘fast, dynamic players with potential for development at relatively moderate prices’.
The Magpies were impressed with the 42-year-old’s work at Leverkusen and Werder Bremern. They ‘wanted to hire’ Steidten and make him as their new sporting director.
In order to do that, Sport1 say Newcastle made an ‘immoral offer’ a five year deal that included an annual salary of €3m.
However, ‘Steidten refused’ as he has ‘big plans’ at Leverkusen, where he is looking for a promotion. Sport1 explain the ‘squad planner’ could ‘soon be promoted’ as the German club’s new sporting director.
