One interested party has walked away from a Newcastle takeover, according to Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards.
This follows on from a claim by Times journalist George Caulkin that a number of parties were in takeover talks and that “some have got further than others”.
The Bin Zayed Group has been seen as the frontrunners over the past few weeks but progress seems to have stalled since they released its last statement on May 29.
Edwards was asked to confirm that it wasn’t the BZG that had pulled out from talks and he replied, “It’s not BZG but I’m not a huge believer in them anyway. Others are though, so you know, we have another fortnight to go.”
Rafa Benitez is still in talks over a new contract with his current deal set to expire on June 30.
https://twitter.com/bigchrisholt/status/1139448269866708992
Yeah that was me and it’s true
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 14, 2019
It’s not BZG but I’m not a huge believer in them anyway, as I think I’ve said. Others are though, so you know, we have another fortnight to go
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 14, 2019
OPINION
Benitez hasn’t signed a new contract and has about two weeks to go until he’s no longer Newcastle manager. If he’s waiting to see what happens with the takeover it’s becoming pretty apparent that it’s not going to get sorted before the end of June. However, we’re not privy to what’s going on behind the scenes at Newcastle and there could be much more going on with the takeover than we’re aware of. Newcastle and Mike Ashley have not made an official comment about the BZG but they are adamant that their takeover is on course. Meanwhile, one of the other interested parties has walked away. It all adds up to another summer of confusion at Newcastle after optimism that Ashley was on his way out reached fever pitch (again) a few weeks back when the BZG interest was announced. Edwards doesn’t hold out high hopes for the BZG takeover but that certainly seems like the most likely option on the table at the moment.