Amanda Staveley is "expected to launch a bid" for Premier League side Newcastle United, sources said, after the British businesswoman held a "constructive meeting" with the club’s hierarchy, according to George Caulkin of the LONDON TIMES. Staveley, who runs PCP Capital Partners and is reported to control £28B ($36.8B) of investments from the Middle East and China, is "understood to be pushing for a speedy purchase." She met Newcastle United Managing Dir Lee Charnley and Justin Barnes, a long-time associate of Owner Mike Ashley, "after the recent home match against Liverpool." The same sources said that Staveley and Newcastle signed a non-disclosure agreement. Neither party was "prepared to comment" on Wednesday. Four groups have reportedly agreed to NDAs with Newcastle, a "precursor to discussions about a price and then the undertaking of due diligence," but Staveley is "understood to be the frontrunner" (
LONDON TIMES, 10/19). In London, James Burton reported a deal "may be done by Christmas" and Staveley could "pump" as much as £300M ($394.5M) into Manager Rafa Benítez's transfer funds. Ashley is thought to be "keen on rustling up more bids to force up the price for the club" (
DAILY MAIL, 10/18).
