Mike Ashley still open to offers for Newcastle Utd

Mike Ashley will still listen to offers for Newcastle United – despite running out of patience with would-be buyers.

It has been reported that Ashley was “no longer looking to sell”.

The billionaire formally put the club up for sale 17 months ago, but discussions with Amanda Staveley, Peter Kenyon and others have come to nothing.

And it was claimed over the weekend that a “deeply frustrated” Ashley had taken the club off the market.

However, it is understood that Ashley – who has been looking for around £300million for the Premier League club – will still listen to offers from credible parties.

Ashley broke off talks with Staveley, a Dubai-based financier, early last year.

And more recent discussions with Kenyon – who was looking to raise the money to back a takeover bid – have not progressed this year.

The prospect of a sale any time soon looks remote, and the future of Rafa Benitez, out of contract in the summer, will need to be addressed before the end of the season.

Benitez is unwilling to commit to the club without assurances over backing in the transfer market.

The club is 14th in the Premier League and six points above the relegation zone with nine games left to play.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been invited to take part in the Premier League Asia Trophy in China, according to a report.

The annual tournament is being staged in Shanghai this summer.

And it has been claimed that the club has agreed to take part in the tournament along with Premier League champions Manchester City, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Newcastle last took part in the inaugural tournament in 2003 along with Chelsea, Birmingham City and the host country Malaysia.

Benitez has preferred to stay closer to home in preseason since taking charge of the club two years ago.

United’s manager has taken his team to Ireland for a training camp every summer and the team has played warm-up fixtures in England, Scotland and on mainland Europe.