OPINION
Newcastle United’s hopes of retaining the services of manager Rafa Benitez have surely been handed a boost with the reports the club be set to be sold to new owners.
A report from The Sun has suggested that it is believed Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has been in talks with Sheikh Khaled Bin Zaid Al Nehayan over a £350million deal to sell the club, and that contracts have been signed and submitted to the Premier League.
However, according to the Newcastle Chronicle although talks are believed to have taken place, the club has remained tight lipped on the reports of a sale, and that the sale of the Newcastle will come down to what Ashley decides to do next after previous ownership talks, with the likes of Peter Kenyon and Amanda Staveley, have stalled after initial discussions.
Newcastle, though at least appear to be in serious talks regarding the sale of the club from Ashley, who could be set to end his 12-year reign as the club’s controversial owner, which could be a massive boost in attempts to convince Benitez to stay.
Talks have been taking place between Benitez and the club’s hierarchy and it is thought that Benitez is wanting to be given greater freedom in the transfer market to strengthen his squad this summer, before the Spaniard commits to any new deal.
Therefore news of a potential new owner coming in and buying the club for around £350million, suggests that funds could well be made available to Benitez to go into the summer transfer window and bring in the players needed to take the club to the next level.
If the Spaniard is assured that he will be backed then it appears, that due to his excellent relationship with Newcastle supporters, Benitez would be willing to commit his future to St James’ Park.
Newcastle supporters would be delighted with that, after Benitez has managed to guide the club back to the Premier League, and then managed two consecutive mid-table finishes despite being given little funds in the transfer market.
That will raise hope about what the Spaniard could achieve it he was suitably backed in the summer transfer window.
For now Newcastle supporters will be hoping that the latest talks over the club’s ownership end with the club under new owners, and that a change at the top of the club will mean there will be no change in the club’s management team for next season.
