There is a very strange report from L’Equipe that Mike Ashley has turned down a deal of €400m from another Emirati group that had involvement from Peter Kenyon.

It does not appear that this group is connected to the Bin Zayed Group or their reported takeover.

Newcastle : Mike Ashley ne veut plus vendre, Bruno Genesio s'éloigne https://t.co/CImMGogXRo pic.twitter.com/LK3nageYEg

— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) July 16, 2019

The report has comments attributed to Bruno Genesio’s agent saying that he was the choice of the group to become the manager if the takeover occurred.

This is what the L’Equipe report states that Genesio’s agent Pini Zahavi has stated:

“He was their candidate. We will find something else for Bruno.”

We have to wonder what is going on with the reports from France today and if they are just getting partial information. This could explain the report from Le Progres which stated that Genesio was due to be appointed.

The report also dubiously claims that Michael Chopra led a group in a failed takeover as well. This no doubt arises from his comments on talkSPORT this morning where Chopra claimed he put a Saudi group in touch with Lee Charnley about their interest in buying Newcastle.

Unfortunately, all of this seems to be just speculation based on unsubstantiated claims. Unless something else more substantial comes to light, all signs point to a Steve Bruce appointment.