Mark Douglas was answering Chronicle Live readers questions when one reader asked about the GACP takeover rumours.
When answering the question, Mark Douglas stated: “I knew this was happening – just as I’ve been told through contacts that they continue to insist they have a “live” interest in taking over Newcastle.”
Can you see a takeover happening?
Yes
No chance
GACP Sports recently sold their minority stake in French Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, a side that is currently seventh in the French top division. According to GACP’s official website, they are interested in “influential minority and controlled investments in outstanding sports-related businesses that have strong brand equity.” With that in mind, a potential investment move to the Premier League sounds like a perfect fit for them.
Newcastle United are having a decent season, sitting 11th place in the Premier League table with six wins out of the first 17 matches. However, if GACP could take over the club before January, many fans will be expecting the investment company to sort out some big-name transfers. The link to Bordeaux could help with this, with players that you could, perhaps, definitely see playing at Newcastle in the future like Youssouf Sabaly, who has an estimated Transfermarkt value of £9m and plays as a full-back in France.
Verdict
Newcastle United fans have been dreaming of a takeover for a while now, but it’s just never really happened for them.
Just because GACP owned a big club in France doesn’t mean they’ll be spending loads of money, with Bordeaux spending just £6.3m this window; while selling players to a total value of £30.83m, this doesn’t look like a club that’s used to spending. Although, these figures are for this season in which it was reported GACP sold their share on 17th December, meaning they may have planned to spend little as they probably knew they would sell their share.
This is still positive news if the deal can actually happen, however, we will have to see how much the new investors would be willing to spend; because at the end of the day, that’s one of the main things fans will care about.