Amanda Staveley puts down foundations for Newcastle United takeover by setting up TWO new companies amid Saudi Arabian links

This morning, the Wall Street Journal reported Staveley was attempting to facilitate a fresh takeover attempt backed by the vast riches of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

The buyer, according to the report, is the Public Investment Fund, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “key investment tool”. It’s claimed the Premier League club “could be days or weeks away” from a deal thought to be worth around £340million.

And the Gazette has learned Staveley has been appointed as a director on TWO new companies in the last three weeks.

Staveley was appointed as sole director to 'CANTERVALE HOLDINGS LIMITED’ on January 22, as per Companies House website.

She was also appointed to a company incorporated on January 6, named ‘PZ NEWCO LIMITED’ alongside husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi.

The Telegraph revealed the consortium have code-named their plans “Project Zebra” as a nod to Newcastle’s black-and-white stripes.

While no deal has been agreed reports state the Public Investment Fund is part of a group of investors organised by the financier Staveley.

This development has stark parallels with takeover bids of the past with GACP Sports and Sheikh Khaled also setting up takeover vehicle companies, but failing to get past the stage of initial talks.

United owner Mike Ashley put the club up for sale in October 2017. Since then a series of prospective buyers have failed to raise the funds needed to finance a takeover.

Speaking last summer, Ashley said: “I have to assume I will stay running this football club. There are no offers. Define an offer. I'm not a believer any more. Peter Kenyon convinced me last Christmas that it was going to get done. I'm never doing that again. I think I could own this football club forever.”

It is understood the news that broke this morning came as a surprise to club sources, who have denied leaking any bid talk to the press.