Justin Allen, The Sun journalist who broke the story on the Bin Zayed Group making an approach to buy Newcastle United, has taken to Twitter to defend the claim.
It was reported early last week that the Dubai-based consortium were on course to complete a takeover on Tyneside, but progress has been slow and information has been sporadic since.
But Allen is adamant that his claims are true.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, writing on his personal account, he said:” Mike Ashley has agreed to sell the club for £350m to the Bin Zayed Group. Fact.
“Contracts have been signed. Fact.
“That paperwork is with the Premier League. Fact.
“I also refer you to two public on-the-record statements since I broke the story from the group.”
Mike Ashley has agreed to sell the club for.£350m to the Bin Zayed Group. FACT. Contracts have been signed. FACT. That paperwork is with the Premier League. FACT.
I also refer you to two public on-the-record statements since I broke the story from the group.— Justin Allen (@justinallen1976) June 3, 2019
OPINION
Allen has come out swinging here, but it’s hard to tell what it means. On the one hand, he has his journalistic integrity to uphold, and he is bound to fight for his point of view. He isn’t exactly going to come out and admit that the whole thing was a hoax or a speculative effort. At the same time though, what does he have to gain by doubling down on suggestions like this if he knows that they’re not true. Surely that would be a lot more damaging to him in the long run. On that basis alone you are inclined to believe him, but the issue is that you have to wonder just how much anybody really knows about this. Allen could put his mortgage on the information he has been given, but if his source is dodgy then it’s not worth a thing. Frustratingly, the Magpies are going to have to wait a while longer before they have the answer they are craving so desperately.