Newcastle United’s next owner is more likely to be financed by Saudi Arabian or UAE funds, rather than from China, according to Professor Simon Chadwick of Salford University.
Chadwick believes there is a soft power struggle between Middle Eastern rivals Qatar and the Saudis, and the Saudi government may look to strike back at Qatar’s purchase of Paris Saint-Germain by buying a football club of their own.
Currently only one of the five parties that have signed non-disclosure agreements with the club have been named publicly: Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners. There is nothing known so far about the other four prospective owners.
Current owner Mike Ashley is hoping to sell the club for £300m to £400m, according to reports, but the due diligence process can take many months, and former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow believes it may be sometime before it is known who will complete the takeover of the club.
