The Telegraph seem to doubt that Moat has the clout to fulfil his ambitions, even though he is expected to meet Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias this week with a view to finalising a deal.
We all know the score ... club which is valued at £100 million by owner Mike Ashley ... and Moat has offered somewhere in the region of £80m.
There is rumoured to be new interest from India and South Africa and but so far no one, including Moat, has met Ashley’s asking price.
The Telegraph have "a source" close to NUFC, and he says: “No one has come up with any money – no one.
“Barry Moat and the South Africans have one thing in common – they are all talking but they have no produced any money.
“There will be some preliminary conversations late in the week and I would think Barry Moat will have some provisional discussions with them although I can’t underline provisional enough.
“Until someone comes up with the money Mike Ashley has got to stay in control of the club. He has got no choice.”