Mike Ashley has not yet received “acceptable offer” for Newcastle United, according to Sky Sports.
The Newcastle owner’s lawyer appeared on television last year to announce that Ashley was putting the club up for sale, ending a long-running standoff between himself and the Newcastle United fans upset with his ownership of the club. His original aim was to sell the club by Christmas 2017 but with the season of goodwill looming once again the Sports Direct tycoon is still at the helm.
There’s been no shortage of interest in the Tyneside club with the highest profile takeover attempt being that of Amanda Staveley who tried to purchase the side for £250m last year but was unable to agree a deal with the current owner.
Furthermore, the Daily Mail recently reported that the US-based consortium led by former Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon, which had previously been reported as an interested party in September, have reignited their interest and are willing to match Ashley’s £300m asking price but are holding out to see if Newcastle are likely to remain a Premier League club for much longer with the team currently sat in 19th without a single victory this season.
But Sky are reporting that the latest interested party are a group of Saudi Arabian investors but that the group have yet to establish contact with Ashley’s camp.
The Sky report also states that if Ashley does not believe that any prospective new owner does not have the funds to take the club forward then he will not sell. So, for the fans excited by the prospect of an Ashley-less Newcastle, you may still have a while to wait.
