Shay Given wants Newcastle to sign Alexis Sanchez if club is handed transfer funds after expected takeover

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Goalkeeper Shay Given believes Newcastle United should make a move for Alexis Sanchez if the club is handed the appropriate transfer funds following the expected takeover by financial entrepreneur Amanda Staveley.

Staveley and her company, PCP Capital Partners, are in the process of negotiating a price with current owner Mike Ashley, who is holding out for a £380m takeover fee, as reported by The Independent last month.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, however, it’s unlikely any deal will be confirmed in time to free up transfer funds for Rafa Benitez, with a 30-day due diligence period needed after any offer is accepted before the Premier League will ratify the deal.

But Given, who spent 14 years at Newcastle before moving to Manchester City in 2009, remains hopeful that progress will made in time to allow Benitez to make a marquee signing, such as Sanchez, in the January transfer window.

Given told the Daily Star: “If the investors come in and have got endless amounts of money, they could sign [Alexis] Sanchez, for example.

“It depends who these new owners are.

“I’m not saying he’ll go there and they could instead trawl down the bottom part of the league – you just don’t know how much money they’ll have.

“When you look at Sheikh Mansour when he came to Manchester City and signed Robinho.

“Will these people have that money to spend or will it be a bit more of shopping down the ladder?”

Having seen first-hand the impact made by Sheikh Mansour upon his arrival at City, Given is optimistic that a takeover at Newcastle could help transform the north-east club into a major player once again.

“I do believe they [new owners] can get back up challenging for the Premier League and Champions League football,” he added.

“It will take time but it’s a great stadium, the fans are unreal and it’s a big club.”