Ashley in advanced talks with two bidders over sale of Newcastle

Mike Ashley has revealed he is in advanced talks to sell Newcastle United.

The Daily Telegraph understands that non-disclosure agreements were signed last month and that at least one of the interested parties is wealthy enough to meet the asking price. However, the issue is clouded by the fact that Ashley denied he was in exclusive talks with one group.

It is thought there are at least two serious bidders and both want secrecy in order to complete the deal.

Ashley’s comments, though, have caught one of them by surprise and there is a suspicion it may be a negotiating tactic.

Peter Kenyon, the former Chelsea chief executive, has been trying to attract investors in the United States. The Telegraph was told over the weekend that a Turkish consortium had shown a firm interest.

On top of that, there are claims that a “multi-billionaire not from the US” has also made an acceptable bid in the past few days and is waiting to hear back from Ashley.

Given how many times Ashley has tried to sell and failed, the most important thing is that those involved in the advanced talks seem to have convinced him that they have both the funds and the ambition to take the club forward after his 11-year reign has brought mainly frustrations for supporters.

Ashley, who is asking for more than £300million to sell up, confirmed after appearing in front of MPS at a parliamentary select committee looking into his retail business that he was in talks and would like to get the deal done before the January transfer window opened.

“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,” Ashley said last night. When asked if he was speaking only to one party, Ashley replied: “No, but talks are at a more progressed stage than they have ever been.”