Newcastle United takeover latest: Four bids made to buy club as Mike Ashley plots sale before end of the year

Newcastle United takeover latest: Four bids made to buy club as Mike Ashley plots sale before end of the year
Four bids in excess of 300million have been made to buy Newcastle United, with owner Mike Ashley hoping to push through a sale before January.Ashley, the sportswear tycoon, has revealed he is in talks with several potential purchasers 14 months after placing the Magpies on the market, and voiced his hope that a deal could be done within weeks.Getty3

Newcastle fans have wanted Mike Ashley away from the club for years

It is understood that at least four interested parties, all of them based overseas, have tabled offers and that talks are continuing amid optimism that Ashley’s timescale could be realistic.The news emerged amid reports that former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is ready to show his hand after spending several weeks attempting to put funding in place, while there have been suggestions that prospective purchasers from the United States, the Middle East and Turkey have made contact.Ashley revealed in a rare television interview that ongoing negotiations were ‘at a more progressed stage than they’ve ever been’ and although his comments were greeted with scepticism by fans who saw Amanda Staveley’s proposed takeover collapse earlier this year, things appear to be developing apace.3

Staveley attempted to purchase the club earlier this year

He is keen to finally offload the club at the third time of asking after a turbulent 11-and-a-half years on Tyneside which has seen him at odds with large sections of the Toon Army for much of his time in charge.Disgruntled supporters have made their feelings abundantly clear over his repeated failure to provide his managers, and in particular present incumbent Rafael Benitez, with the funding to compete in the transfer market, with Ashley having admitted he cannot afford to do so. That has left the Spaniard’s future in doubt with his current contract due to expire at the end of this season, and the fan-base will be hoping a swift and successful conclusion to talks could both secure the 58-year-old’s continued presence and provide him with a meaningful war chest.In the meantime, Benitez insisted as he prepared for Wednesday night’s Premier League trip to Everton that it was ‘business as usual’ and expressed his hope that his players would not be distracted by events behind the scenes.He said: “I will say that I hope it will not be a distraction. Why? Because the players, they know that they have to perform, that’s it.3

Benitez’s side visit Goodison Park this evening

“For us, we have experience of this. We are in the same situation that we were in before. When we say, ‘business as usual’, it’s because we know that it will not change our plans.“Our plans are to look for the (transfer) targets. Fine. We are looking for the targets, so it depends who is there and who is available.“But for me, we carry on and thinking that Mike will be there, and we have to choose the right players for us. That’s it.”

---

When Man City and Liverpool FC play in Premier League title home straight. Manchester City and Liverpool will battle for the Premier League title over the next ten games, but is there an advantage
EPL 2018-19: Golden Boot Winner, Stat Leaders After

---

Former Arsenal ace Robin van Persie reveals 'great stories' he's heard about Tottenham and Liverpool training Liverpool and Spurs are the two Premier League representatives in this season's
Former Arsenal ace Robin van Persie reveals 'great stories

---

Lionel Messi was in typically majestic form on Sunday night as Barcelona crushed Real Betis Remarkably it was his 51st career hat-trick, and it wasn't just the visiting faithful who were waxing lyrical about the 31-year-old. Messi left his team-mate Clement Lenglet in disbelief after he wrapped up his hat-trick with a simply stunning lobbed effort.
Lionel Messi responds to standing ovation from Real Betis

---

Mohamed Salah injury: Update expected on whether Liverpool star will be fit to play Barcelona. Mohamed Salah suffered a head injury in Liverpool's 3-2 win over Newcastle United and had to be taken
Mohamed Salah Roberto Firmino injury blow as pair miss

---

AS the Premier League celebrates its 25th birthday, we select the 10 best seasons in the competiton's history for drama, quality and entertainment. From Manchester United's treble chasers to
Salah ends goal drought, helps Liverpool back to top of EPL

---

Man Utd transfer target Diego Godin set for Atletico Madrid exit over contract dispute DIEGO GODIN is heading for the Atletico Madrid exit door, according to reports in Spain. UNITED NEWS
Paper Talk: Man Utd target LaLiga sporting director; shock

---

Arsenal news: Jack Wilshere rates Unai Emery's first season after top-four blow | Metro News. Jack Wilshere believes his former club Arsenal have a had a 'good' season despite the Gunners almost certainly missing out on a top-four finish in the Premier League. Unai Emery's side were above Tottenham and Chelsea in the table only last month but
The mercurial rise and fall of Americans' belief in climate

---

Marko Arnautovic has been left out of West Ham's squad to face Bournemouth on Saturday. talkSPORT understands the striker, who wants to seal a lucrative move to China, will not be part of the Irons squad which travels to the south coast this weekend.
Marko Arnautovic too gutted to play against Bournemouth as

---

The countdown to the beginning of the 2019/20 Premier League season is on following the announcement of upcoming campaign's fixtures on Thursday. A ball hasn't been kicked yet but the title race, the relegation dogfight and the battle to finish in the Champions League and Europa League spots is under way, of sorts.
The top 50 most valuable players in world football including

---

talkSPORT is putting the broadcasting legend John Motson, live on stage in a brand new theatre show, with 2 VIP tickets to give away You'll get preferential seats in the theatre, a chance to have a photo taken with John after the show, and also meet our co-host for the evening- talkSPORT's very own Paul Hawksbee.
Buy John Motson at Amazon | John Motson, Low Prices
AD

---

West Brom vs Aston Villa: How to listen. Full commentary from Villa Park will be live on talkSPORT, with our coverage getting underway at 7pm. Russ Williams will bring you all the build-up with Nigel Adderley and Matt Murray on commentary duty.
West Brom vs Aston Villa live on talkSPORT: Commentary

---

Spurs won the first match at their new stadium, while Manchester City reclaimed top spot in the Premier League. 12.33am BST. Related: 'Tonight we touched glory': Pochettino on

---

Chelsea transfer ban: Six youngsters including Mason Mount

---

Manchester United line up shock move for little-known Frankfurt striker Haller as Lukaku replacement if Conte gets green light for £80m Inter move West Ham's Marko Arnautovic insists he has
Arnautovic dropped by West Ham, team news and transfer latest

---

Juventus 3-0 Atletico Madrid (Agg 3-2) RECAP: Ronaldo bags Champions League hat-trick. The Portuguese superstar produced a Champions League miracle in Turin to destroy Atleti's hopes
Juventus 3-0 Atletico Madrid (Agg: 3-2): Cristiano Ronaldo

---