Mike Ashley: Newcastle owner hoping to sell club ‘before January transfer window’

Mike Ashley: Newcastle owner hoping to sell club ‘before January transfer window’
Mike Ashley is hopeful of selling Newcastle before the January transfer window opens after revealing talks are at a “more progressed stage” than they have ever been.The controversial businessman stunned supporters protesting over his running of the club on Monday when he told Sky News he hopes to finally offload the club he put up for sale for the third time in October last year.3

Newcastle could finally be sold this month

The Sports Direct tycoon said: “I am hopeful for the Newcastle fans, for the club, for everybody, that I will be able to step aside and we will be able to get an owner in that will please everybody.“I’d like it to be before the January transfer window.”Asked whether that was a realistic proposition, he added that it was “possible”, but that realistic was “maybe too strong a word”.Ashley, who did not name the interested party, added: “Hopefully we can carry on the good form – just recent good form – and we can get the deal done.3

There have been mass protests against the Newcastle owner

“Talks are at a more progressed stage than they’ve ever been.”Ashley pulled out of talks with Amanda Staveley’sPCP Capital Partners in January after failing to strike a deal, while former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is also understood to have expressed an interest in putting together a consortium to buy out Ashley.There were also reports last month that he was in advanced talks with an American consortium, although sources close to the owner insisted they were mystified by the claims at the time.The sportswear magnate took control at St James’ Park in 2007, but has endured a turbulent 11 and a half years at the helm.3

Fans have been calling for Ashley’s departure for some time

Fans have been in open revolt for much of his time on Tyneside with the billionaire having insisted he cannot afford to take the club to the next level.That has left manager Rafael Benitez’s future in doubt with the 58-year-old Spaniard, who is out of contract at the end of this season, having been disappointed with the club’s transfer dealings for much of his reign to date.Benitez guided the Magpies to a 10th place finish in the Premier League last season 12 months after dragging them back out of the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt despite having to work to a tight budget, and then presented Ashley with a masterplan to build upon that achievement. However, Newcastle made a profit on transfers of more than 20million during the summer amid a stand-off between the two men with the manager unwilling to sign a contract extension until he was assured of the club’s ambition, and Ashley refusing to give those assurances until pen was put to paper.Benitez’s side lost 3-0 at home to West Ham on Saturday, a result which ended a run of three successive victories, their first of the season after a difficult start.They are currently 15th in the table with 12 points from their opening 14 fixtures, and face Wolves at St James’ on Sunday with protestors calling for a boycott of the televised match.

---

Algeria's Haris Belkebla first call up to the national team has ended in absolute embarrassment after he was kicked out of the African Cup of Nations squad for showing his backside on a Fortnite
Algeria midfielder Haris Belkebla sent home for showing bum

---

Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez has shared the poster for his upcoming movie, "My Friend Alexis," ahead of its release next week. Europa League and FA Cup final action. Man United's
Toe Poke Daily: Man United's Alexis Sanchez shares poster for

---

Feb 06, 2019 · Cardiff City have been left shocked and dismayed after Nantes demanded the first instalment of the transfer fee for Emiliano Sala, who was on board a plane that went missing a little over a
Emiliano Sala: Nantes Demand £15m Payment From Cardiff City

---

Who are they? Accrington Stanley await the winners of Wednesday night's FA Cup replay between Southampton and Derby County. A 2-2 draw at Pride Park means the tie will be settled on the south coast and at St Mary's.
Derby beats Southampton on penalties in FA Cup

---

Jorginho has urged Maurizio Sarri to not take the Juventus job as it would be seen as a 'betrayal' by Napoli fans. The Chelsea boss is favourite to land the manager's post in Turin following
~ Chelsea news: Jorginho tells Maurizio Sarri not to take

---

Mourners have been paying their final respects to Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala in his native Argentina. The 28-year-old died when the plane he was in with pilot David Ibbotson crashed in the

---

Champions league Final tickets 2019 are in very high demand and will be SOLD OUT. Our advice is to use a safe and trusted ticket website online, as this fully guarantees your ticket for the biggest Cup Game in European Football.
Read below to see who I fully trust and recommend.
Champions League final ticket details - Liverpool FC

---

- Neil Warnock defends Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho over bottle-smash celebration The Cardiff manager, who turns 70 on Saturday, says it's easy for pundits to criticise when they're
Neil Warnock backs Man Utd's Jose Mourinho over bottle

---

Manchester United continued their blistering start to the new Premier League season with a dominant 4-0 away victory over Swansea City. Jose Mourinho named an unchanged team for the trip to south Wales after thrashing West Ham 4-0 last week thanks to a debut double from Romelu Lukaku and further goals from Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.
Man City completes epic three-goal comeback to top Swansea in

---

Barcelona set to wear 90s-inspired retro shirt as worn by Rivaldo and Luis Figo in Clasico with Real Madrid as they mark 20 years with Nike. Barcelona will reportedly wear a retro special edition
Barcelona set to wear 90s-inspired retro shirt in El Clasico

---

With Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi making their mark on a senior international stage with England, Rio Ferdinand wants to see Phil Foden and Reiss Nelson become the next to break through.
England squad: Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho to get call-ups

---