Newcastle United takeover by Amanda Staveley edges nearer as she closes in on deal worth around £300million with Mike Ashley
Owner Ashley believed to have agreed deal, with only paperwork to be signed off
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MIKE ASHLEY has edged closer to selling Newcastle to Amanda Staveley for over £300million.
SunSport revealed last week that Toon owner Ashley had met Staveley at a London curry house for their first face-to-face talks.
And following further negotiations, a deal has is now moving forward that could signal the end of Ashley’s ten-year reign at St James’ Park.
Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners company had seen an initial offer of £250m rejected, as well as one which was just shy of £300m but contained a number of deferred payments and clauses.
But after their successful talks in an Indian restaurant last Wednesday, the Yorkshirewoman is understood to have increased her bid to slightly more than £300m.
Staveley has compromised on some other aspects of the deal, including allowing Ashley to continue to advertise Sports Direct at St James’ Park.
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A transfer kitty of around £30m will now also be made available for Rafa Benitez to spend in January.
Ashley will release the funds but will be refunded by Staveley once a takeover has been completed, which could be at the start of February.
Staveley will run the club but will be backed by investors from Dubai and Saudi Arabia via her PCP Capital Partners firm.
TIKKA CHANCE ON TOON Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley hold Toon talks at curry house in London
Meanwhile, Ashley will be relieved his turbulent time on Tyneside is almost over.
He paid £134m to buy Newcastle in 2007, then put in an interest-free loan of £129m two years later.
Overall, Ashley has ploughed in around £300m so he will be getting his money back.
