Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has posted a Twitter update on the Newcastle takeover.
He said that Sheikh Khaled, the person at the head of the £350m Newcastle takeover bid, “is in fact no relation to Man City owner Sheikh Mansour.”
The Sun reported that he was a relative of the Man City owner and that Khaled had said he had “agreed terms” on the £350m takeover.
Downie said, “There was a suggestion yesterday that Khaled was the half-brother of Mansour. Important to point out this doesn’t mean Khaled doesn’t have the money to buy NUFC, but as yet no proof of funds.”
Downie made the claim on Tuesday morning.
We understand Sheikh Khaled is in fact no relation to Man City owner Sheikh Mansour.
There was a suggestion yesterday that Khaled was the half-brother of Mansour.
Important to point out this doesn’t mean Khaled doesn’t have the money to buy NUFC, but as yet no proof of funds.— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) May 28, 2019
OPINION
This is a bit of a twist in the takeover tale, but it might not be bad news for Newcastle. In fact, there was a fear that the Newcastle takeover could be seen as a conflict of interest if two brothers were owners of separate clubs. Sun journalist Martin Lipton made this point and said it would be a question that would have to be asked by the Premier League if it was true. Other reports had said that they were cousins rather than half-brothers but Downie claims they are “no relation” to each other. The lack of proof over the funds could just be a procedural thing but you would imagine that this would be one of the first things that is cleared up after other failed bids from Amanda Staveley and Peter Kenyon. Either way, we expect things to move rapidly on this takeover one way or another and while Newcastle fans have every reason to be excited, there are plenty of reliable sources urging caution.