Amanda Staveley consortium makes second £300m Newcastle takeover bid

AMANDA STAVELEY has made a second £300million bid for Newcastle - upping the pressure even more on owner Mike Ashley.

Negotiations are now thought to be at a delicate stage, although sportswear tycoon Ashley still wants nearer £400m.

Staveley's PCP Capital Partners are reportedly keen to pump money into manager Rafa Benitez's squad in the January transfer window.

And Liverpool supporter Staveley, a businesswoman with a wealth of connections, knows Benitez from his time as Kop chief.

She also helped Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed’s Abu Dhabi United Group take over Manchester City in 2008.

That cash injection transformed City.

And Staveley is thought to concur with Benitez that Newcastle's only chance of challenging for a place in Europe is a large splash-out on players.

Ashley has reportedly been keen to sell the Magpies before Christmas.

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Staveley's consortium are regarded as the only serious bidder so far.

PCP signed a non-disclosure agreement with Newcastle in October.

And Staveley has been studying the club's books ever since then.

Toon fans seem keen for her to take over, not least because Ashley has failed to invest in the playing side as much as they want.

Staveley's first offer included a clause giving PCP compensation if Newcastle get relegated this season.

Ashley was unhappy with this, though.

So Staveley's new offer is likely to include some key changes, as she had hoped for a buy-out before Christmas.

That looks unlikely now, as time is running out.

Benitez might well be frustrated by the slow progress because he hoped to spend big in the January transfer window.

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