Mike Ashley: Newcastle owner hoping to sell club ‘before January transfer window’

Mike Ashley: Newcastle owner hoping to sell club ‘before January transfer window’
Mike Ashley is hopeful of selling Newcastle before the January transfer window opens after revealing talks are at a “more progressed stage” than they have ever been.The controversial businessman stunned supporters protesting over his running of the club on Monday when he told Sky News he hopes to finally offload the club he put up for sale for the third time in October last year.3

Newcastle could finally be sold this month

The Sports Direct tycoon said: “I am hopeful for the Newcastle fans, for the club, for everybody, that I will be able to step aside and we will be able to get an owner in that will please everybody.“I’d like it to be before the January transfer window.”Asked whether that was a realistic proposition, he added that it was “possible”, but that realistic was “maybe too strong a word”.Ashley, who did not name the interested party, added: “Hopefully we can carry on the good form – just recent good form – and we can get the deal done.3

There have been mass protests against the Newcastle owner

“Talks are at a more progressed stage than they’ve ever been.”Ashley pulled out of talks with Amanda Staveley’sPCP Capital Partners in January after failing to strike a deal, while former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is also understood to have expressed an interest in putting together a consortium to buy out Ashley.There were also reports last month that he was in advanced talks with an American consortium, although sources close to the owner insisted they were mystified by the claims at the time.The sportswear magnate took control at St James’ Park in 2007, but has endured a turbulent 11 and a half years at the helm.3

Fans have been calling for Ashley’s departure for some time

Fans have been in open revolt for much of his time on Tyneside with the billionaire having insisted he cannot afford to take the club to the next level.That has left manager Rafael Benitez’s future in doubt with the 58-year-old Spaniard, who is out of contract at the end of this season, having been disappointed with the club’s transfer dealings for much of his reign to date.Benitez guided the Magpies to a 10th place finish in the Premier League last season 12 months after dragging them back out of the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt despite having to work to a tight budget, and then presented Ashley with a masterplan to build upon that achievement. However, Newcastle made a profit on transfers of more than 20million during the summer amid a stand-off between the two men with the manager unwilling to sign a contract extension until he was assured of the club’s ambition, and Ashley refusing to give those assurances until pen was put to paper.Benitez’s side lost 3-0 at home to West Ham on Saturday, a result which ended a run of three successive victories, their first of the season after a difficult start.They are currently 15th in the table with 12 points from their opening 14 fixtures, and face Wolves at St James’ on Sunday with protestors calling for a boycott of the televised match.

---

Jose Mourinho claims he risked being dismissed at Manchester United if he mishandled Paul Pogba. In a subtle swipe at a player he labelled 'His Excellency', the 56-year-old suggested he would have been 'sent on vacation' by Old Trafford chiefs had he come down hard on the France midfielder.

---

Meanwhile, Liverpool overcame the steepest of odds to knock Barcelona out 4-3 on aggregate, after losing the first away leg of the semi-finals 3-0. They return to the Champions League for the
List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals - Wikipedia

---

Which Premier League sides have accumulated the most bookings so far? (Pic: GETTY) "Leicester have been shown three red cards in their first eight Premier League outings" It has been a fascinating start to the new Premier League season. We are only eight matches in, but there have been plenty of talking points.
Official! The Premier League's biggest divers REVEALED!

---

Arsenal transfer latest: Gunners set to activate clause to

---

Gareth Bale was an unused substitute as his fall-out with Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane hit a new low, and the team's season ended in a 2-0 home defeat to Real Betis on Sunday.
Gareth Bale storms down the tunnel after being left on the

---

Liverpool news: Sadio Mane wants to become Anfield legend

---

Liverpool team news: Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita passed

---

Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager? Gus Poyet says legend would

---

talkSPORT.com rounds up all the latest transfer news and biggest football gossip from Monday's papers and online… West Ham are preparing to move for Manchester United's Antonio Valencia, the versatile right-sided player, if Pablo Zabaleta decides to retire at the end of the season.
Alexis Sanchez News, Stats and Updates | Daily Mail Online

---

Manchester United star Jesse Lingard was compared to Andres Iniesta ; The claim was made by former Red Devils coach Rene Meulensteen Lingard has only broken into the first team picture in recent games
Jesse Lingard is the 'English Iniesta' according to ex

---

VAK'S THE WAY TO DO IT The 21-year-old has joined from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda for an undisclosed fee Celtic have confirmed the signing of Ivory Coast forward Vakoun Issouf Bayo on a four-year deal. The 21-year-old joins from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda for an undisclosed fee - although the deal is subject to Bayo […]
Celtic sign £2m Ivorian striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo on four

---