NEWCASTLE United’s new Sporting Director Dan Ashworth is expecting a lot of activity at the club during the summer transfer window and has already touched base with head coach Eddie Howe about the club’s plans.

Ashworth’s switch to St James Park was officially sanctioned by the Premier League this week after the Magpies and Brighton and Hove Albion agreed the proper compensation.

Just days into Ashworth’s role, the club sanctioned a move for midfielder Isaac Hayden who has gone to Championship side Norwich City on loan until the end of next season. The Canaries retain an option to make the move permanent should Hayden meet performance related criteria. The exit comes just a day after Ashworth met with the club’s loan manager Shola Ameobi for the first time.

Whilst the first senior squad exit has been confirmed, Newcastle are working hard to manufacture deals this summer as they look to push up the Premier League table next season. The club have agreed a fee with French side Reims for striker Huge Ekitike while they are battling it out with Italian champions AC Milan for the signature of Dutch defender Sven Botman.

They have also been linked with moves for Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

There are a number of strands to Ashworth’s new role on Tyneside but the club’s recruitment in the coming months is high up on his agenda. He said: “The most important thing for me is just to understand who is in place, the culture that is in place, where everyone fits, what’s everyone sits, what’s going on that’s going really well, what’s going on that’s maybe got a few gaps. Just try and bring that together.

“We’re about to start a transfer window so of course there is going to be a lot of things on the to do list there with players in, players out, players moving around and certainly some of the things that Eddie (Howe) would want to try and do for the first-team squad.

“Then within time, trying to understand medical department, academy, loans, women’s and all the other things across the remits of sporting director.

“The two most important things for me at the moment would be to try understand and get to know all the staff, how the club functions and the culture here and then, short-term, try and drive the transfer window for the next three months.”

Howe has made clear his desires to see movement at the club in the summer. Newcastle will be conscious of breaking financial fair play rules and are well prepared to balance the books with departures. Fringe players Ciaran Clark, Jamal Lewis and Dwight Gayle look set to leave the club in the summer to pave the way for new arrivals.

It may well be the summer break but business is continuing at the club as Ashworth added: “I’ve spoken to Eddie. He is away at the moment on holiday but I have spoken to him.

“Obviously it’s been difficult for me leading up to this where I haven’t been able to have any conversations until officially I was given the go ahead by the two clubs.

“I’ve spoken to him several times since I’ve started which is great. He is probably sick of me already! I tried to leave him alone a bit as well because he is on holiday with his family.

“I know Eddie previously. Not really well, we’ve never worked together but from my previous roles and his previous roles, we’ve come across each other on occasions and he’s a man I admire a lot and have got a great deal of respect for.

“He’s certainly done a wonderful job at Bournemouth and a wonderful job here at Newcastle as well.”

Elsewhere, Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier played 90 minutes for England yesterday evening during their 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany. Harry Kane’s second half penalty cancelled out Jonas Hoffman’s goal in Munich.