Newcastle United takeover: Financial firm tables formal bid in region of 拢300m

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Mike Ashley took over the running of Newcastle United in 2007
  • Author, Dan Roan
  • Role, 91热爆 sports editor

A financial firm headed by British businesswoman Amanda Staveley has tabled a formal takeover bid in the region of 拢300m for Newcastle United.

PCP Capital Partners has been in talks with club owner Mike Ashley for about a month, and a source close to the deal said an offer has now been made.

Newcastle are yet to comment publicly on the news, although a club source has disputed the value of the bid.

Ashley said on 16 October he wanted to sell after 10 years in charge.

He reportedly dropped the asking price to 拢380m in an attempt to complete a sale by the end of the year.

Ashley, 53, has been a divisive figure at St James' Park since taking over in 2007, with some supporters regularly protesting about the way the businessman has run the club.

He bought Newcastle for 拢134.4m in 2007. Their latest accounts - up to 30 June 2016 and before the club's relegation to the Championship - showed a profit of 拢900,000 and turnover of 拢126m in 2015-16.

Staveley helped broker the purchase of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour bin-Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 2009, and it was reported she led Dubai International Capital's 拢400m bid for Liverpool in 2008.

The 44-year-old watched Newcastle's 1-1 home draw against Liverpool on 1 October.

The Magpies have been relegated twice from the Premier League during Ashley's reign.

After winning promotion last season, Rafael Benitez's side are 11th in the Premier League after 12 matches.