Mike Ashley finally appears ready to sell recently-promoted Premier League side Newcastle United "after 10 turbulent, often unpopular years in charge," according to David Conn of the London GUARDIAN. It is "unclear how solid the reality is of the Chinese investors" rumored to be interested in buying Newcastle, given that overseas football takeovers have been "restrained in China," but it is "seen as significant that Ashley has not moved to deny reports." In recent years, Ashley "moved strongly to reject periodic reports that he is preparing to sell the club," which he bought for £134M from Freddy Shepherd and John Hall's families in '07, "but this time Newcastle merely offered no comment." Reports emerged on Monday that "Chinese investors are in talks to invest in Newcastle, but so far none have been identified." Newcastle United's most recent financial statements, for the relegation season of '15-16, show the club made income of £126M, the Premier League’s ninth-highest, and a £4M pre-tax profit (GUARDIAN, 6/13). In London, George Caulkin reported Ashley previously stated that he would not sell the club unless it won a major trophy or qualified for the Champions League, but sources at St. James' Park claimed that he is "open to potential outside funding." When he persuaded Manager Rafa Benítez to stay at the end of last season, Ashley said that he had received interest from a group in China that "could result in the sale of some shares." Club officials reassured Benítez on Monday that "nothing had changed" and the Spaniard is "exploring possible improvements to his first-team squad, despite being frustrated by the slow pace of transfers" (LONDON TIMES, 6/13). SKY SPORTS reported Ashley has received "significant" int'l investment interest in recent weeks, including one party from China. Should the Chinese consortium "successfully negotiate a takeover," it will become the second Chinese ownership group in the Premier League, alongside the owner of West Brom, while Chinese consortium CMC owns a 13% stake in Man City. League Championship clubs Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers also have Chinese owners (SKY SPORTS, 6/13).
