Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards shared that his understanding was that Newcastle United were still for sale but that Mike Ashley may raise the club’s price in the summer.
The North-East sports reporter for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph shared that he has been told that there is a worry that the Magpies owner may demand £400million instead of somewhere between £300million and £350million to part with the club if Rafa Benitez’s side stay in the Premier League.
The Times previously reported that a frustrated Ashley had taken the Magpies off the market and Edwards shared that his sources at the club were slightly irritated by that report as it complicates matters.
“Not really no (if the Magpies are off the market), I think it’s more of an update that nothing is happening at the moment but my understanding is the club remains for sale,” said Edwards on talkSPORT (15:50 Monday, March 4th).
“If someone was to offer Mike Ashley want he wants £300- £350million then he will sell so I think this is more of a lack of progress report than anything, as far as the club are concerned the club is still up for sale.
“All it takes is to match Ashley’s asking price but the fact he has tried to sell it four times, I think now, it’s frustrating and supporters are very disillusioned about it.
“But I haven’t give up all hope.
“Yeah I think the update was the Peter Kenyon talks, various other parties hadn’t progressed, and I think the frustration part of that (the Times’ report), I think Mike Ashley really is frustrated that he hasn’t been able to find anyone, but it still is for sale.
“Until it comes out otherwise that will always be the case, my information from my sources at the club they were a little bit irritated by this as it sort of complicates matters a bit.
“I think it still is for sale, the worry I’ve been told is that Ashley may raise the asking price in the summer if Newcastle stay up to £400million, if you haven’t been able to sell something for £300million then it makes it almost impossible.”
OPINION
It must be reassuring for Magpies fans that Ashley is still looking to sell Newcastle United but the rest of Edwards’ update is a concern. It seems that the businessman is frustrated while others at the club are irritated and that doesn’t suggest good news regarding a possible takeover is coming anytime soon. Also the alarm bells are probably ringing among supporters over the idea that Ashley may be about to raise his asking price. Just as Edwards explains if the businessman can’t sell the club for somewhere near the £300million mark, his chances of getting someone to pay £400million are very slim indeed. While having Premier League status does make a club more valuable, potential buyers have no doubt been working under the assumption that Benitez’s side were set to stay in the top-flight when dismissing the idea of paying £300million to secure a takeover. It’s quite disheartening for supporters that these dream-crushing updates over Ashley selling the club have emerged when they have, as lately the team have been delivering the goods on the pitch and fans should be celebrating.