Mike Ashley surprised everyone by spending large sums of money in the final two days of the January transfer window, but what made him break his conservative spending habit?
The announcement of Miguel Almiron flying to England for his medical with Newcastle United took everyone by surprise. Not necessarily because he chose Newcastle over multiple teams, but because it meant that Mike Ashley decided to throw down £21million for a player on Rafa Benitez’s wish list. The Spaniard tactician has been ignored time and time again by Ashley, but this time the business tycoon caved in and secured the services of a quality player.
That being said, it is time to dissect this decision and try to figure out what changed in Ashley’s mind and try to predict his next move. Personally, I think this investment from Newcastle’s owner means one of two things for the club going forward.
Wants to Remain Owner (Not Likely)
This might sound crazy, but maybe Ashley wants to remain the owner of Newcastle, although I do not see that happening. Despite this being unlikely, it is worth discussing because Ashley would not make a big investment out of the blue for no reason. With takeover talks stalled for several months now, Ashley is preparing for an unwanted extended tenure at the club.
Ashley knows that relegation would hurt him financially as the club’s value would certainly be cut in half. The only way for him to get the £300million he is asking for, or very close to it, is if the Magpies maintain their Premier League status. As a result, he invested in a quality playmaker who can score goals and set up teammates to earn positive results down the stretch.
Attract Prospective Buyers (Likely)
A more likely motive behind Ashley’s investment during the January transfer window is that he is simply polishing up his team to attract serious investors who can take the club out of his hands this summer. If the Magpies can avoid the drop thanks to a player like Almiron, then there is no doubt that a takeover will happen.
In addition to staying up serving as a major factor to increase the likelihood of a takeover, keeping Rafa Benitez is just as important. For a prospective buyer, purchasing a team in the Top Flight is one thing, but having a Champions League-winning manager on the sideline adds more value to an expensive investment.
Benitez threatened to walk away from the club if some key signings were not made by deadline day, and he the Spaniard got his main man in Almiron. If Ashley can keep Benitez happy, the Spaniard will probably sign a contract extension and the team would be much easier to sell with that managerial assurance.