A journalist who specialises in the financial side of football has delivered a worrying update on the Newcastle takeover.
Nick Harris has claimed that after talking to “folk in Abu Dhabi who follow this, it’s possible Sheikh Khaled isn’t royal family at all; that he’s not a billionaire and could do the Newcastle deal alone; he didn’t get a PHD in War Studies from King’s College, London, as reports suggest.”
It had been reported in the Sun that a deal was close after terms had been agreed between Sheikh Khaled and Newcastle. That report claimed he was a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and a relative of Man City owner Sheikh Mansour.
FWIW, speaking today to folk in Abu Dhabi who follow this, it's possible Sheikh Khaled isn't 'royal family' at all; that he's not a billionaire & couldn't do NUFC deal alone; he didn't get a PhD in War Studies from King's College, London, as reports suggest.
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) May 28, 2019
Harris also said that “bluffers ands fakers have been common in PL bids over 25 years.”
Sheikh Khaled may prove authentic & take NUFC on. But bluffers & fakers have been common in PL bids over 25 yrs. Remember Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mubarak al-Khalifa (Leeds), Michael Ezra (Leeds), Kenny Huang (LFC) & Ahsan Ali Syed (Rovers), to name just four?
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) May 28, 2019
OPINION
This is one aspect of the Newcastle takeover being conducted in public – it gives journalists a chance to look deeper into claims made by the interested party. Surely Sheikh Khaled can’t be exposed as a chancer who wants to talk his way into owning one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League? It’s worth saying that’s not what’s being said here, although there is a natural and correct tendency to be cautious as a journalist. What Harris is saying is that there’s no proof that Sheikh Khaled is as well connected as claims that have been made about him. They haven’t necessarily come from him but it’s worrying nonetheless. If he’s not a billionaire and he can’t afford to do the deal on his own, this takeover bid is back to square one. Jim White said on talkSPORT when the potential deal was first announced that it was “fake news” and he’s looking like he might have been closer to the truth that the Sun report.