Newcastle United to rival Chelsea for ex-Rafa Benitez signing – IF Saudi Arabian PIF takeover gets green light
According to French-based Eurosport journalist Manu Lonjon, Newcastle’s ' future owners' have enquired about the situation of ex-Rafa Benitez signing at Napoli, Dries Mertens, as well as Club Brugge's Nigerian hitman Emmanuel Dennis.
PCP Capital Partners, with the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, are closing in on a £300million takeover of United, with Mike Ashley finally ready end his 13 years on Tyneside.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnd Lonjon, who broke news of a possible takeover at the weekend, claims Belgium international Mertens, a free transfer target of Chelsea, and Dennis are on the United radar, should the PIF-backed bid be given the go-ahead by the Premier League.
On Twitter, Lonjon (roughly translated) said: "The future owners of Newcastle are starting to look around. They sent emissaries to enquire about the situations of Emmanuel Dennis and Dries Mertens."