Rumours of a Newcastle United takeover have intensified after potential investor Amanda Staveley met with manager Rafael Benitez following his side’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the weekend, reports the Chronicle.
Staveley was amongst the spectators at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, and reportedly met with the Spaniard in an unofficial capacity following the final whistle.
Staveley is known to have spent time with some of Benitez’s closest associates during the match, as well as ex-Magpies manager and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, while she was also spotted walking down the tunnel around half-an-hour after the final whistle.
A leading financier with heavy ties to a number of world leaders in the Middle East, Staveley launched a failed bid to takeover Liverpool only last year, however remains keen on taking over a Premier League club to add to her growing empire.
It is reported she wants to purchase one of the league’s ‘big teams’ or a team with the potential to become one, a category Newcastle United are believed to be included in.
There has been thus far no direct contact between Staveley and Mike Ashley or the club, however several non-named interested parties are understood to have signed non-disclosure agreements with Newcastle as Ashley looks to sell the club.
