The richest man in Turkey has been described as a "frontrunner" to buy Newcastle United, according to reports.
Murat Ulker, a biscuit tycoon worth a reported £3bn, is said to be preparing a £220million offer for the Magpies, with Mike Ashley having officially put the club on the market.
The Sports Direct magnate’s lawyer suggested that Ashley hopes to sell the club by Christmas and it seems as if Ulker is keen to seal a quick deal as well.
So who is Murat Ulker? Here's everything our friends at the Chronicle know about the man and his interest in the Toon Army:
Ulker is the chairman of Turkish-based food giants Yildiz Holdings, who own the likes of Penguins, Jaffa Cakes and McVitie’s and a spokesman has claimed he wants to turn United into a “top six club”.
Newcastle have so far declined to comment on the claim that Ulker is in negotiations to buy the club, though it is understood he has had no official contact with anyone at United yet.
Whether Ulker is dealing with Ashley directly, or the law firm through which he is attempting to offload the club, remains to be seen and that possibility cannot be dismissed out of hand.
However, it is believed that Ulker is not one of the parties to have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the club, and therefore these claims must be taken with a certain degree of scepticism.
For a start, a spokesperson would not be able to comment on the record about Ulker’s desire to buy United if a NDA had been signed, yet The Evening Standard carries quotes from Tom McLoughlin, someone they claim represents the Turkish billionaire.
“The Ülker family have substantial assets and significant investments already in the UK,” McLoughlin, who is based in London and is a representative of the Ulker family, told The Evening Standard.
“We understand football and our initial specific target would be to make Newcastle a solid top six club and a permanent feature in Europe with a popular local and worldwide following.”
There is also a suggestion that Benitez would be backed with £60m during the January transfer window in order to bolster his squad during the current campaign.
It is claimed that Ulker is seeking advice from international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys and accountants PwC in his attempt to purchase the club from Ashley. There is also a suggestion that Ulker has been in discussions with Ashley for more than six months, though whether that is true remains unclear given the fact no-one at United appears to have been contacted by him.
Ulker’s interest in sport goes far beyond English football, however, with basketball said to be a passion of the biscuit magnate.
In 1993, he played an active role in establishing of the Ulkerspor Basketball Club, which has subsequently united with Fenerbahce.
Interestingly, Ulker - who would become the first Turkish owner of a Premier League club if his reported interest was to turn into a formal bid - also acquired the royal rights to the Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, where the football team play, for 10 years.