Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has said he's 'hopeful' that he'd like to sell the club 'before the January transfer window'.
Stop us if you've heard that one before.
Back in October 2017, Ashley announced that the Magpies were for sale, and in November, Toon fans rejoiced as a deal with
Mike Ashley has informed prospective buyers that he wants a deal done by December 31, but discussions have not progressed at a pace he would like.
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) December 4, 2018
The reason why he did an interview on Sky News was to make public the recent progress & to hurry along investors. #NUFC [Daily Mail]
The Toon Army will take Ashley's words with an Everest-sized amount of salt, with many viewing Ashley's 'attempts' to sell Newcastle last year as simply being a ploy to detract from his poor running of the club and to prevent him from spending in the January transfer window. They fear that he might be trying the same tactic again - and who could blame them?
However, a report from Luke Edwards at the Telegraph might offer Newcastle fans more concrete hope than ever. Edwards claims that non-disclosure agreements were signed last month, and it is thought that there are 'at least' two bidders who are serious about buying the club, and maintaining their secrecy in order to push a deal through.
Those rumoured parties include former Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, a Turkish consortium, and there are
One name which has been doing the rounds (that would be able to buy #NUFC) is that of Arthur Blank, the owner of NFL side Atlanta Falcons and MLS franchise Atlanta United. The 76-year-old is said to be worth nearly $5billion. [Daily Mail] pic.twitter.com/Ifatly1hXl
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) December 4, 2018
Edwards claims that Ashley going public regarding the interest from multiple groups in Newcastle could be a negotiating tactic in order to drive up the price for the club. Ashley, who bought Newcastle in 2007 for
“I am hopeful – for the Newcastle fans, for the club, for everybody, that I will be able to step aside and we will be able to get an owner in that will please everybody,” Ashley told Sky News.
“I'd like it to be before the January transfer window.
This contains full details of what I was told last week and this evening. The fact this was all supposed to be happening in complete secrecy makes Ashley’s public comments difficult to assess but It has been stressed to me again in the last hour that this is “genuine” https://t.co/AhG3osA2Fa
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) December 3, 2018
— GallowgateShots (@GallowgateShots) December 4, 2018
So once again, the Toon Army seems to have come full circle. The January transfer window is approaching, and Mike Ashley, yet again, is claiming that he wants to sell the club before the window opens.
Fans are doing their best to not be lured into a potential Christmas fairytale that will be ruined by the Grinch. But one prevailing thought rests in the mind of every Magpies fan: We don't care who Ashley sells to - just as long as he finally, mercifully, sells.
Source : 90min