A big update has emerged on Newcastle United's efforts to land a director of football...

What's the talk?

According to The Athletic's Brighton reporter Andy Naylor, the Magpies have held talks with Brighton's technical director Dan Ashworth over a move to St. James' Park.

The report claims that a decision is not believed to be imminent on his future, whilst mentioning that the Seagulls gave permission to Newcastle to speak with him.

Buzzing

Newcastle fans will surely be buzzing with this news as it suggests that they are inching closer to landing a director of football. Whilst it may not be happening in the immediate future, it shows that the wheels have been set in motion and PIF are looking to the future in terms of where they want to go with the club.

Ashworth could be the man to come in and sculpt the side moving forward with decisions on matters on and off the pitch, whilst working alongside Howe to create a successful team. That is why this is such an important move for the new owners and why supporters will be delighted that they are making progress in their efforts to bring the Brighton man in.

Seagulls reporter Aden-Jay Wood previously Tweeted: "If Dan Ashworth goes (which I think he will), it will be a huge shame. Ashworth has almost singlehandedly changed Brighton’s approach both on and off the field and would be very, very difficult to replace."

This suggests that he is the right man for PIF to appoint as he has managed to achieve success in turning a club around with Brighton, and that is yet a further reason why the Toon Army will be pleased with this news.

Nick Hammond has already been appointed to oversee the January window, which means that there is no rush for a deal to be completed for Ashworth. The ex-Reading chief has arrived on a short-term basis to assist the manager this month as the Magpies attempt to bolster their squad and he has got off to the best possible start.

Kieran Trippier is poised to sign on a permanent transfer from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, six months after starring for England as they reached the final of the European Championships. The former Tottenham full-back averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.20 and provided six assists in the league last term for the Spanish side, showing the quality he possesses as a right-back.

This shows that Hammond is doing a fine job, so far, and Newcastle don't need to rush Ashworth's appointment and can, therefore, bide their time with him. Whether this means that he remains on the south coast until the end of the campaign or joins the Toon at the end of the window remains to be seen, but the fact that there have already been talks between the two parties will surely excite the supporters.

AND in other news, "Under discussion..": Luke Edwards drops big NUFC transfer claim that'll excite fans...