OPINION
When Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley declared an end to negotiations with Amanda Staveley and PCP Capital Partners in January, a deal between the two parties looked over.
A source close to Ashley told Sky Sports News that talks had been “exhaustive, frustrating and a complete waste of time,” after several months of discussions.
However, after three months of dormancy on the takeover front, a new report now suggests that talks have resumed between the two parties, and a deal is now growing closer to fruition.
As reported by the Mirror, there have been constructive discussions between Ashley and Staveley’s representatives over the past few weeks.
The newspaper claim that with Newcastle’s Premier League status now close to being confirmed for another season, PCP are ready to come back in with an improved offer.
The Mirror report that PCP are confident of securing a deal around the £300million mark, and have begun to draw up plans to upgrade the club’s training ground.
It is also said that Staveley would be prepared to back manager Rafa Benitez with a hefty summer transfer kitty, and would offer him a bumper long-term deal to stay at St. James’ Park.
If this report is true, then Ashley is closing in on what would be the best possible deal for Newcastle in 2018.
Firstly, they would be getting rid of Ashley himself. The Sports Direct magnate has been, by all accounts, a terrible owner for the Magpies, who have endured two relegations during his tenure.
Secondly, he would be securing the club’s Premier League future by putting Newcastle in the hands of a group with greater financial backing than himself.
While money does not always equal success, there is significant correlation between the two, and PCP’s riches would give Newcastle the best chance of climbing the table and becoming a force in the top-flight once again.
Thirdly, that money would help them secure the future of the most important figure at the club, Benitez. The Spaniard is a world class manager who the club are lucky to have, and his future has been under question recently as relations with Ashley have soured.
The presence of a new hierarchy would hopefully convince Benitez to stay, and that again give the Magpies a brilliant chance of becoming a top-ten Premier League side once again in the near future.