New insight into £300m Newcastle United takeover from Jamie Reuben

Amanda Staveley is leading a £300million takeover of the club.

The bid is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment fund and the billionaire property investors David and Simon Reuben.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has spoken to David’s son Jamie – who is on the board of Queens Park Rangers – about the proposed takeover, which is being pushed through with the country in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"He’s a football fanatic, and loves his football,” Redknapp told Sky Sports. “Their knowledge is very good, and they’re going to be looking at trying to get different players.

"I know they’re trying to find out what the market will be, because when they initially started the contractual situation with trying to buy Newcastle, the landscape will have now changed. Players will probably be a little bit cheaper, wages will have changed, and there’ll be a little bit of fear in the market.

"With Newcastle having new owners, and it feels wrong to say it, but they might be able to exploit an opportunity, and they might, with the money they’ve got, they have a great opportunity.

"It’s a really nice time for Newcastle fans, because they’ve had a lot of pain in the last few years. We spoke about Leeds the other day, but it’s very similar with Newcastle. They want a bit of normality up there.”

Redknapp is confident that that deal, which is now with the Premier League, will get over the line.

"This has been ongoing for about a year now, but I think they’re as close as ever,” said Redknapp.

"Listen, they haven’t won trophies for an awful long time. I don't know the exact number of years, but it’s, without doubt, a sleeping giant.

"It was one of my favourite places to go. When the Newcastle fans are up and at them, there’s nothing like it.

"They’re not going to have new owners and just jump into the top four – that’s not going to happen. But, I think, it’s going to be much more of a positive place – and that’s what everyone wants.”