Saudis close in on £340m deal for Newcastle
NEWCASTLE are in talks with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth-fund over a stunning £340million takeover. On the day Newcastle were forced to an FA Cup fourthround replay by League One Oxford United, the Mail on Sunday has been told that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the majority partner in a consortium that has been organised by financier Amanda Staveley. It includes British billionaires Simon and David Reuben and one source claims a deal with owner Mike Ashley could be announced as soon as this week. If the deal goes through PIF would take around 80 per cent of shares in the club with Staveley’s PCP Capital and other backers holding the remaining 20 per cent. It is expected that Staveley, who has been attempting to buy the club for two-and-a-half years, would have a seat on the board, along with the Reubens. Given Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record, the deal would be controversial. PIF is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s key investment programme. Ashley remains unpopular with Newcastle fans, while his side continues to underwhelm. Lying in the bottom half of the Premier League, they went close to a shock FA Cup exit in a 0-0 with Oxford yesterday.
Marcus Browne, on loan from Middlesbrough, had already sent one shot across Karl Darlow’s goal when he found himself one on one with the Newcastle keeper, who smothered his shot. Then, just before the end, St James’ Park steeled itself for embarrassment as Nathan Holland went clear but once more Darlow saved. As upsets go, it would not have been on the scale of the 4-0 demolition of Manchester United in the League Cup that Karl Robinson oversaw when he was in charge of MK Dons but the Oxford manager said those missed chances would haunt his dreams.
‘The last thought in my mind as I go to sleep will be “what if”,’ he said. ‘Brownie is such a talent but his finishing is useless. He needs a bit of calmness in the final third and that is something only age will give him.’
Newcastle’s players were booed off by a capacity crowd after Tyneside responded to reduced ticket prices in a way it had not done before under Ashley by packing St James’.
Steve Bruce sounded almost ashamed that their enthusiasm had been met by a performance that represented no more than a shrug of the shoulders. ‘We will be better when we go to Oxford because we could not be any worse,’ Bruce said. ‘From the first minute to the last we were never good enough in possession. Our whole demeanour was not right.
‘I could give you many excuses but for a big crowd who have come and played their part, we have not done enough. We have just huffed and puffed all day. I am disappointed not to have sent the crowd home in raptures because to get 50,000 for Oxford is quite remarkable.’
With Nabil Bentaleb afflicted by a debutant’s caution and Sean Longstaff out of sorts, Newcastle’s midfield was ponderous. When DeAndre Yedlin failed to control a routine pass, Bruce’s sigh of exasperation was audible.
Any electricity on the pitch was provided by Allan SaintMaximin, who showed plenty of tricks but not much evidence that he realises he has 10 teammates on the pitch.
Twice after the interval, Joelinton put the ball in the net, twice he was ruled offside. His afternoon began with a clash of heads with Oxford’s young defender, Rob Dickie, and the Brazilian required eight stitches. Dickie, too, had his head bandaged.
It is a football cliche that anyone who plays on with a head injury is called a hero but the way Dickie, 23, marshalled his defence and kept Newcastle at bay was worthy of the accolade.