Newcastle Toons
Fansided

Newcastle United takeover talks are full of unconfirmed information

By Roy Emanuel

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Sports Direct International founder Mike Ashley leaves the Red Lion pub in Westminster to attend a Parliamentary select committee hearing at Portcullis house on June 7, 2016 in London, England. Mike Ashley is to face the Business, Innovations and Skills committee on working practices at his Sports Direct Shirebrook Warehouse in Derbyshire. In a letter to his staff he admitted that the centre needed 'improvements' after investigations found that staff had been paid less than the minimum wage and ambulances had been called to the complex 76 times in two years as staff were 'too scared' to call in sick. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Sports Direct International founder Mike Ashley leaves the Red Lion pub in Westminster to attend a Parliamentary select committee hearing at Portcullis house on June 7, 2016 in London, England. Mike Ashley is to face the Business, Innovations and Skills committee on working practices at his Sports Direct Shirebrook Warehouse in Derbyshire. In a letter to his staff he admitted that the centre needed 'improvements' after investigations found that staff had been paid less than the minimum wage and ambulances had been called to the complex 76 times in two years as staff were 'too scared' to call in sick. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It is not easy to tell fact from fiction at the moment.

Newcastle United have a massive weekend ahead of them, hosting Leicester City on Saturday and celebrating the club’s 125th anniversary (to the day actually). But off the pitch there is a battle as well, and the potential new ownership group are having great difficulty striking a deal with Mike Ashley.

A report in The Independent yesterday claimed that a £250 million offer from PCP Capital Partners and Amanda Staveley has been submitted, a considerably lower number than the original figure of £300 million that was declined by Newcastle’s current owner.

Another troubling element from the piece focuses on the amount of time needed to complete the takeover, even when a sum is eventually agreed to.

Estimates look at around 40 days, which obviously can greatly impact the January transfer period.

The Magpies currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, and are only five points above the relegation zone.

Ultimately, improvements will be needed in the coming weeks. But with Ashley waiting to complete a deal during the month, there is little to suggest that he would assist the club financially in a significant manner.

The positive is the unknown

While this information and the overall delay are creating anxious times for supporters, there are positives to take away from reports this week.

Speculation is at a peak level (as it often is for a situation like this), and it really is difficult for anyone to speak on the negotiations with much certainty.

Non-disclosure agreements are signed and this is a part of business, so to gain truth from these figures is literally impossible at this point in time.

Next: Top five January transfer needs for Newcastle United

PCP Capital Partners and Amanda Staveley are working to open a new chapter for Newcastle United. Talks with Mike Ashley continue, and hopefully there will be encouraging news on the way before it is too late in 2017-18.