Billionaire investor drops Newcastle United takeover hint

The American billionaire owner has opened up about his future ambitions in an interview with The Athletic after selling his stake in AS Roma.

Pallotta, first linked with a bid for United last year, is looking for an English club with a “great history” – and a big fanbase.

Newcastle, for Pallotta, ticks both boxes – and the 63-year-old is looking for other investors.

"I do think that if there’s a place that makes sense for me, it’s the Premier League " Pallotta told The Athletic.

"It’s pretty difficult for an American — and I do think we actually did a lot of good stuff — but I do think it’s difficult in a lot of countries to deal with the cultural stuff, all kinds of stuff. There are just all kinds of variables.

“I think there are interesting teams in the Premier League that have great history – and it would be nice to see them getting back to it. The Newcastles of the world. Great, great fanbase.

"Those are the kind of things I think would be interesting to be a part of with a good group (of investors), and there’s more rationality there in many ways, right?”

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley – who put the club up for sale in late 2017 – is trying to resurrect a £300million sale to a consortium led by Amanda Staveley through legal action.