A bizarre takeover ‘exclusive’ emerged from The Mirror late last night, revealing the US tycoon believed to have launched a bid to buy Newcastle United – just incase the Saudis £300m buyout fails to gain Premier League approval.
The story claims that ‘American media mogul‘ Henry Mauriss has submitted a ‘£350m offer‘ to Mike Ashley after holding negotiations with the Sports Direct owner ‘since last year.
While the piece is bizarre (why would he pay £50m more than the £300m agreed by the Saudi?!), it does insist that his bid is in ‘cold storage’ while we wait to see if the consortium containing the Saudi PIF, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben Brothers passes the Premier League’s fit and proper person’s test.
If it does go through – and it’s said to be ‘on the brink’ of doing so according to their piece – then Mauriss’ ‘interest’ will all be in vain and the Saudi-backed buyers will be given the keys to St James’ Park once the final payment is made.
Nevertheless, here’s what a source close to Mauriss is said to have told The Mirror:
“He’s a charitable and honourable man – and is desperate to become Newcastle’s new owner. It’s a genuine bid.
“He’s a successful player in the media world in America and has a big interest in English football.”
Some find these claims both unsettling and strange, however this could at least be a sign we’ll get rid of Mike Ashley one way or another this summer!
The Times’ Henry Winter confirmed real interest from ‘TWO American consortiums’ last week, with Luke Edwards also suggesting over the weekend that news of a ‘second bid’ would break soon, so perhaps this is what they were referring to.
Nothing more than some PR from an American businessman who’s surprisingly hard to pin down online, or a genuine offer for us to consider IF the Saudis fail to receive Premier League approval?
Who knows, but all of this will be meaningless if the Saudi-backed bid passes the Premier League’s final hurdle – something they’re expected to do if George Caulkin and Mark Douglas’ latest ‘updates’ are to be believed.
If the American deal is some 50 mil over the Arabs?? its a no brainer for the fat man he will find some fault with the present bid on the table and pocket the none returnable deposit.
This is what villains and gangsters do for a living ,once again taking the p— out of all the supporters. see you at the funeral of the fat thief.
Alistair Stokoe(Quote)
Don’t let the American buy the club there tighter with there money then the fcb is PLEASE PLEASE don’t buy the club
Richard26(Quote)