There are other parties aside from the Bin Zayed Group interested in completing a takeover of Newcastle United, according to journalist Chris Waugh.
The Magpies reporter revealed the news on The Chronicle’s news and transfer centre [17/06; 11:14], claiming that there are other parties, aside from established favourites BZG, who want to purchase the north east giants.
They are engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations with current owner Mike Ashley, while the BZG have failed to get in contact with manager Rafael Benitez to assure him that they want him to stay on.
Waugh states that the Spaniard has had indirect contact with these other interested parties, despite not having spoken to the BZG.
OPINION
Well, this is quite the update from Waugh, and has seemingly come entirely out of the blue. Obviously there has been speculation for months about a number of parties being interested in buying the club from Ashley, but there’s not really been much talk recently that anyone other than the BZG are in the hunt. They have been the established favourites for weeks now and have seemingly made more headway than many other parties have done in the past. However, it seems they’ve now got a bit of competition. We’ve known for a little while now that the BZG haven’t made any contact with Benitez, despite apparently wanting him to stay on, but these other parties – seemingly further behind in their negotiations with Ashley – who have got in touch with the Spaniard to assure him that he’s their man. Now, that’s hugely interesting. Perhaps it means their talks with Ashley have progressed more than we thought, whereas the BZG’s haven’t.
