Newcastle keen on Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman to replace Manchester United-bound Dan Ashworth

Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman is expected to be on the final shortlist for the Newcastle sporting director role.

The 49-year-old is highly regarded within the Premier League for his work at Selhurst Park, and is one of the candidates interviewing to replace Manchester United-bound Dan Ashworth.

Newcastle are also interested in Paul Mitchell, formerly of Tottenham and Monaco, and Brentford’s Phil Giles. Recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson are tasked with presenting candidates for the Saudi-backed club.

Freedman has been at Palace since 2017 and quickly built up a reputation as a shrewd operator by signing players such as Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, and Michael Olise. All three are expected to attract rival interest this summer.

The former Palace striker is believed to have a home in the north of England, making relocating not an issue, having been considered for a role at Old Trafford by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

On Wednesday, Freedman attended Palace’s 2-0 win over Newcastle at Selhurst Park and was sat behind club chairman Steve Parrish.

United hope that an impasse in securing Ashworth from Newcastle will be broken when the St James’s Park club secure his replacement.

Ashworth is set to take Newcastle to arbitration to break the deadlock over his move Old Trafford. Newcastle are demanding United pay £20million compensation or that Ashworth fulfil his 18 months of paid gardening leave before leaving.