The Express in an exclusive report today are saying that Mike Ashley is increasingly confident that a deal to sell Newcastle will be done in the new year.
The deal seems to be for £300M.
They report a consortium led by former Chelsea and Manchester United CEO Peter Kenyon is close to reaching an agreement for the price for the club.
There are two other exclusives out today, and we cover those in this report.
The Express report backs up the one in the Star that things are moving along nicely and they are working with law firm Walker Morris.
They repeat the Star version that those working on the acquisition have had Christmas leave canceled so the deal can complete as soon as possible in the new year.
Mike Ashley – confident of a deal in the new year
The method of payment for the club are still to be agreed to, but the money is likely to be paid in installments.
£300M has broadly been accepted as a fair price for Newcastle United between the two parties.
So it would appear the acquisition led by Peter Kenyon is going quite well, and there is a real desire to buy the club as soon as possible.
It’s normal in any acquisition to try to move as quickly as possible when there are competing groups.
We also hope one of the reasons for speed, in this case, is that Rockefeller Capital Management Group will give some decent funds to Rafa Benitez, so we can strengthen the squad in the January transfer window.
That will also help protect the new investment of the New York based investment company, so we are nowhere near the relegation zone next May.
If this all comes to fruition – hopefully in January – we also expect Peter Kenyon to offer Rafa Benitez a new and improved long-term deal to take Newcastle to the next level.
We would assume Peter Kenyon will become the new top executive at Newcastle.
It all sounds very good to us.
Let’s hope it happens.
Comments welcome.
58 comments so far
Lovem or Hatem
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:25 AM
Comment #1I have just seen on twitter the NYmag rumor
Ugly Camel
? @TauntedDxb
6m6 minutes ago
So, new co registered at CH, Newcastle Ventures LTD, incorporated on 28th Sep 2018, sole director – Kenneth Lin founder and CEO of Credit Karma (headquartered in San Fran – the Gulfstream connection?).
Is he one of the money men behind Kenyon’s
Lindisfarne
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Comment #2What is the Gulf stream connection?
Lovem or Hatem
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Comment #3@ Lindisfarne
The airplane that flew from San Fran to Newcastle
DubaiMicky
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #4Did you retweet it Lovem?
DaveD1000
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Comment #5Lindi
Plane that was reported landing a few days ago at Newcastle
Lovem or Hatem
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Comment #6@ Dubai
not on twitter – just using a search function on twitter
Chancel be a fine thing
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Comment #7If a camel appears ugly, you simply haven’t drunk enough.
I would say the tweet needs some made up fact, Lin had secret meeting with Ashley, 70million transfer kitty agreed. Something like that to get folk excited and the fake ITKs salivating to rewrite it under their own moniker.
For what it’s worth, I’ve retweeted, so another 2 people might see it.
SuperShearer
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Comment #8I so want to believe this but it all just feels like Groundhog Day from last year. Imply a takeover is in the offing….. say as a result no one will be brought in Jan…. Jan comes and goes, no takeover, no new signings, one or two desperate loan moves made that only frustrate Rafa…. season ends (perfect time to sell) and no interested parties materialise. I want to believe….. but I don’t.
Lovem or Hatem
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:40 AM
Comment #9Just seen someone else re-tweet NY Mag rumor
Jib
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #10Rob my post about the property company thing
was tongue in cheek about what was said viz:-
“Anyway……..no concrete connection to NUFC at all
but thought I’d share since I like a good conspiracy theory!!”
– NY will get it – you nearly got it
and it went sailing merrily way above Wayayman’s head
hibbit
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Comment #11Fakeover is proceeding exactly as planed 😉
posada
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Comment #12A few random facts.
1) Sports Direct bought 30% of Debenhams. They probably paid at least 30p a share. The shares are now 5p each. That’s a loss of perhaps 120M. All figures approximate. Yeah, some will say MA can now buy that company on the cheap, when it goes into administration. However, he could have done that anyway without spending millions on their shares. I think it is a real loss to them.
2) Yesterday MA said trading was very poor for Sports Direct. The share price went down 15%. That is a loss of perhaps 225 million as far as the market value of the company is concerned.
3) House of Fraser not going well apparently.
4) The other share holders or many of them in SD are not happy with his strategy of buying other retailers that are bombed out.
Is he under financial pressure ? Probably. Is he now a forced seller ? Probably not that bad, but desperately wants out.
Has the UKs obsession with cheap tat sports goods come to an end ? I hope so.
Bambams
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #13Well that is 4 retweets….
The Sun has just messaged me wanting an interview
Let’s see what today brings.
Lovem or Hatem
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:49 AM
Comment #14@ Bambams
Yeah its building up a head of steam
Bambams
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Comment #15What a Christmas this could be !
As long as we get targets agreeing to sign I don’t see it as a massive problem if the takeover doesn’t happen until maybe mid January.
As others have said though there has to be money in the coffers to sign quality.
I am told it’s more than 300 million so whether there is some agreement ‘re transfer kitty or this has gone up due to the alleged payments agreement who knows.
Let’s just hope whoever takes over can back our club.
RobLeenio
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:57 AM
Comment #16Jib, I very rarely ‘get’ anything – right miserable bugger with a sh!t sense of humour.
😉
Jib
Dec 14, 2018 at 10:57 AM
Comment #17😀
Binney
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Comment #18Just read that part of the deal includes naming rights and NUFC to be rebranded as the Newcastle United Yankees
Binney
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:06 AM
Comment #19… Just kidding ?
DaveD1000
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:07 AM
Comment #20Binney
that will be found somewhere on Twitter
ilovetoon8788
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:07 AM
Comment #21Newcastle United Yankees sounds nice too
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:13 AM
Comment #22How about Ben Chilwell at 50 million quids for our new left back recruit. Ok, not quite the finished article, but could continue his education under Rafa.
50 million quid, according to Leicester.
Good Lord!
simon376
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:13 AM
Comment #23Bambams and Micky
I’m not on Twitter, what have you been getting and tweeting?
RobLeenio
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:17 AM
Comment #24simon check out the previous thread matey, it’s all on there.
Just a bit of fun.
Shadow_Shearer
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:21 AM
Comment #25The longer this is dragging, the more likely its looking! All the waiting is just killing me! Have it done already please!
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:28 AM
Comment #26From the Guardian’s laughably unreliable but always eminently readable “Rumour Mill”.
“Meanwhile at Newcastle, Rafael Benítez and the club’s supporters are being subjected to the usual old guff about a takeover being imminent, but are also hearing the Spaniard will be given money to spend in January. They have heard these assurances before and could be forgiven greeting them with scepticism, but should the funds materialise, Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almiron remains a prime target. According to the Mirror, Rafa is also in the market for a left-back and is hitching his skirts at Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico, Paris Saint-Germain’s Stanley N’Soki and Real Betis’s versatile jack of all defensive trades, Junior Firpo.”
DubaiMicky
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:34 AM
Comment #27So this is the latest.
Impressions 1,317
Total engagements 205
Detail expands 177
Profile clicks 16
Bambams
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Comment #28Simon
Nothing new mate just Dubai on the wind up to see who bites about what NY MAG posted earlier ‘re his companies house investigation.
lochinvar
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:39 AM
Comment #29Shields Gazette that bastion of the press meanwhile are reporting on matters closer to home.
What strikes me is the generosity of the Geordie fans in donating to those less fortunate than themselves.
Commendable.
Newcastle United and Sunderland fans have reacted to the ticket price increase for the Wear-Tyne derby meeting in the Checkatrade Trophy next year. The Black Cats will host the Magpies’ youngsters on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the Stadium of Light, where the travelling Geordies are expected to be granted a full 5,000 allocation. Sunderland announced yesterday that ticket prices had increased from £3 to £15, which sparked a huge social media response.
Cats owner Stewart Donald intervened to defend the club’s decision via his official Twitter account…..there must be a Mrs. Slocombe joke in there somewhere but we’ve more important matters to focus on.
Jib
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #30Sunlun
Will get £45K off travelling toon fans
They could get 3 players for that !!!!
simon376
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #31Thanks lads
simon376
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #32We need a bit of a laugh
neverwin
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #33Express Star and Mirror ALL owned by Express Newspapers – REMEMBER The Express owner at dinner with Ashley and Amanda.
Do we really want to believe them again.Kenyon allegedly 100 million short, wake up
Jib
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:47 AM
Comment #34Sorry £75K
3 players and their wages bill for a season
Bambams
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:51 AM
Comment #35Neverwin
That is rubbish mate, ‘whoever’ it is that is in negotiations has the money to buy the club – that much I do know.
Its the add-ons that need ironing out now.
RobLeenio
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:55 AM
Comment #36“Its the add-ons that need ironing out now”
Is that cos the tumble dryer is on the blink?
😉
barkel
Dec 14, 2018 at 12:04 PM
Comment #37Rafa manager of the month
Jail for Ashley
Dec 14, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Comment #38ilovetoon8788,
It would sound very nice…… to a mackem troll!
Bambams
Dec 14, 2018 at 12:15 PM
Comment #39Robleenio
Haha
I quote exactly the wording I am told. It’s always my get out of jail card fella.
Don’t know what a tumble dryer has to do with anything…..
Still very happy
Just a fan
Dec 14, 2018 at 12:15 PM
Comment #40According to the Oxford dictionary fakeover is in the running for word of the year.