Newcastle latest news: Toon’s goalkeeper star Rob Elliot admits takeover interest is exciting for everyone
IT is the talk of the Toon — and even Newcastle’s players are getting caught up in the frenzy.
Magpies fans have been jumping for joy since owner Mike Ashley announced last week he is trying to sell up.
And excitement levels went through the roof when Amanda Staveley signed a non-disclosure agreement over the potential purchase of the club.
At the same time, Rafa Benitez had called for full focus from his squad.
And Newcastle, while nowhere near their best, adhered to their manager’s message to see off Premier League basement boys Crystal Palace on Saturday.
But there is no escaping the one thing dominating the thoughts of all on Tyneside right now.
And Toon’s longest-serving star Rob Elliot admits he too is dreaming about what a change of ownership could mean for the club.
Staveley, whose PCP Capital Partners firm looks after £28billion of Middle East money, is actually just one of a handful of investors taking a serious look at Newcastle.
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And keeper Elliot, who joined from Charlton six years ago, said: “There is obviously interest, which is exciting for everyone.
“Hopefully someone comes in who can take the club forward, which will be great.
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“Hopefully it’s a great thing for the club all round, so the club can kick on.
“As players we can’t do a lot about it, we just watch the telly and read the papers like everyone else. But we just hope everything works out for the club.
“We’ve been through a lot these past few years but there’s now a positive vibe around the place and we’ve got to make sure we continue with that. We want this to be a long-term thing, where we’re always looking forward and not back.”
Even without the controversial figure of Ashley leaving and new owners coming in, things at St James’ Park look rosier than they have for some time.
Newcastle used to be seen as a stepping stone for stars like Yohan Cabaye, who left for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2014 but was back at his old club with Palace on the weekend.
But Elliot insists times have changed, with the Toon enjoying their best start to a top-flight season since 2011-12 when they finished fifth.
And the stopper says there should be no fears that 21-year-old match-winner Mikel Merino, who signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer but has been tipped for bigger things, will depart before too long.
Elliot, 31, added: “This club is definitely not a stepping club anymore and it should never be. Those days are gone now.
“The players here are all young, all hungry, but most importantly they are all wanting to play for this club.
“I certainly see Mikel in a bracket where clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid come into it, considering his age. It’s only a matter of time before the very top clubs come looking at him. But he is our player and we have to make sure he takes us to the top.
“We don’t want to see any of our top players up for sale again. That is the mentality now.”
Merino’s 86th-minute goal was his first for the club — and a bit of a fluke.
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Palace’s James McArthur nodded Matt Ritchie’s corner on to the head of the Spanish midfielder and the ball sailed over keeper Julian Speroni and into the net.
Still, the nature of the winner mattered little for boss Benitez, who is delighted with his team’s start to the season.
Asked if this was an exciting time at high- flying Newcastle, he replied: “Yes, I feel like it’s important to realise where we were and where we are.
“We were relegated and we have come back from the Championship. So to be where we are in the Premier League, every fan, every player and every member of staff needs to remember that the way we have done this is by working hard and sticking together.”
