Newcastle takeover: Multi-billionaire Amanda Staveley speaks with Rafa Benitez’s reps as she mulls over Toon bid
AMANDA STAVELEY has spoken with representatives of Rafa Benitez as she mulls over a move for Newcastle.
The mega-rich financier wants to buy a Premier League club and was sat in the St James’ Park directors’ box for Sunday’s draw with Liverpool, making her way down the tunnel after the game.
SunSport understands Staveley was also in attendance for Newcastle’s previous home clash with Stoke last month.
And the Yorkshire businesswoman, who runs the £20billion private equity fund PCP Capital Partners, has been sounding out members of Benitez’s inner circle to find out more about the Toon.
Staveley, 44, has not yet had any contact with current Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, who is looking to sell the club he bought in 2007 for around £400million.
But it is understood she is seriously weighing up launching a takeover bid for the Magpies.
In an interview with Arab News in July, Staveley said she saw a Premier League club as “an attractive investment”.
Her firm is an investment vehicle for sovereign money from the Middle East and made a joint, ultimately unsuccessful, offer with a Chinese company for Liverpool a year ago.
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She has also recently shown interest in Tottenham but Newcastle has now come to her attention with Ashley actively pursuing a sale.
Speaking this summer, the Sports Direct tycoon said: “If somebody would like to take this seat and fund Newcastle with their wealth more than me, I will not stand in Newcastle United’s way.”
