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Jim White: People in the city basically saying ‘fake news’

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Image for Jim White: People in the city basically saying ‘fake news’

talkSPORT host Jim White has poured cold water on the new takeover report at Newcastle. 

The Sun reported that contracts had been signed on a £350m deal with the cousin of Manchester City’s owner Sheikh Mansour.

Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan is a senior member of the Dubai royal family and a successful businessman.

However, talking on the Jim White show (talkSPORT, Monday 10am), the host said that people in the city weren’t optimistic.

“I’ve spoken to some people in the City,” White said, “and while they’re not saying ‘fake news’ what they’re essentially saying is ‘fake news’. That’s what I’m hearing this morning.”

OPINION

Newcastle fans have been here many, many times before, and while plenty will be getting excited by the fresh news, there are others who think that it’s a deflection tactic from Ashley to distract from the Rafa Benitez contract talks. That’s a pretty cynical approach to the news but it’s a consequence of so many news leaks at crucial points in the Newcastle annual cycle. However, good sources have said that Ashley is serious about selling this time and after Newcastle secured their Premier League status, and Benitez in talks over a new contract, this would certainly make sense in terms of timing. Any incoming owner would be able to make investment in the squad before the new season starts – and hopefully convince Benitez that the future is bright – if he hasn’t already committed himself to the club. However, one further bit of bad news is that Sky journalist Pete Graves said that Benitez’s camp was unaware of any fresh bid. That might mean nothing but you would think that if the deal had reached a critical point – as the Sun claimed – that news would have reached Benitez. 

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