Ashley out for deal by Christmas
Klopp says powerful
in the top flight and looking on course to stay there under Benitez, billionaire Ashley believes he can now sell from a position of strength.
It has been an open secret for several months that Ashley wants out, with managing director Lee Charnley meeting interested parties in China during the summer and the chairman himself admitting in a TV interview that he was ready to listen to offers.
Despite his wealth, Ashley claims he does to take it to the next level, at what is an important time in its history, its present ownership has determined that it is in the best interests of Newcastle for the club to be put up for sale.”
No price has been named but it is understood Ashley is looking for more than £350 m, having bought the club from Sir John Hall and the late Freddy Shepherd for £133m in 2007.
He will want to recoup the £129m he has paid the club in loans but is still looking for a profit of about £100m. So far, ❑ SPANISH newspaper Marca have apologised to Tottenham after publishing an article in which it claimed the club are disliked because of their “Jewish origin”. The piece, published on Monday ahead of Spurs’ Champions League visit to Real Madrid, described the club as “hated, but with good footballing style”, adding “their Jewish origin has made them into a club disliked by rival fans”.
Upon learning of the story, Spurs issued a robust response. “We are astonished that a publication such as Marca has seen fit to publish such an article which is blatantly wrong and wholly distasteful,” said a spokesman. JURGEN KLOPP believes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is now ready to shine for Liverpool.
Critics have already been claiming the £35 million summer signing from Arsenal could be a flop, pointing to only one start since he arrived and some indifferent displays.
Apart from a full game against Leicester in the Carabao Cup, the midfielder has played only 86 minutes in six other appearances.
But Klopp believes that the England international needed time to settle at Anfield after signing on deadline day but is now ready to show his true worth.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, impressed on the right flank after coming off the bench late on during the 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday.
And he could get his chance in Slovenia tonight when Liverpool take on Maribor in their Champions League Group E clash, even though Klopp refused to give anything away about his team selection.
“I cannot say how happy I was to see Chambo playing like this,” said the Liverpool manager, right.
“I said he needed a little bit of time and my most positive thing was that finally he has arrived, but it always takes time.
“Since Alex came in he has been twice with the national team, there have been a lot of games with no training so his start has been