Billionaire Amanda Staveley plotting £300m bid for Newcastle after holding talks with club’s hierarchy
Financier Staveley represents huge Middle East investment fund and has been seen watching two Newcastle games recently
AMANDA STAVELEY is getting ready to launch a £300million bid to buy Newcastle from Mike Ashley.
The high-powered financier is heading up takeover talks just a week after current owner Ashley confirmed the club was up for sale.
Staveley is one of the country's leading dealmakers who has brokered some of the biggest business buyouts in recent years, and her team are now preparing to look at the Newcastle book's with a view to making an offer.
And as the head of investment fund PCP Capital Partners she is now aiming to seize control of the Premier League club.
PCP is backed by £28billion in funds from the Middle East and China and is looking to move into the riches of the top flight in England.
It is understood Staveley is already locked in talks with Ashley and his advisers about striking a deal which would see her become the new public face of the club.
And sources in the City of London believe if successful, the group would be willing to make a further £300m available to Rafa Benitez for player purchases.
Rumours of Staveley's interest in Newcastle first arose last month when she was spotted in the stands watching the club's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
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The PCP group had previously been interested in staging a buyout at Anfield, but found owners the Fenway Sports Group unwilling to do business.
So they have switched their attention to St James' Park, with Ashley now a more than willing seller.
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The sports shop tycoon values Newcastle at £400m, but the fact he has gone public with his intention to sell suggests he is struggling to get the figure.
He bought the club for £134m in 2007 but since then has endured a difficult relationship with the club's supporters who have been angered at what they see as a lack of investment in players.
The PCP group are said to have targeted Newcastle because of their huge global fanbase - and also the potential for them to grow bigger in a short time.
The 52,000 seater stadium is all club owned, and the training centre is also well developed - meaning any further investment can be focused largely on the team.