Newcastle United to rival Chelsea for ex-Rafa Benitez signing – IF Saudi Arabian PIF takeover gets green light

Newcastle United are eyeing moves for TWO much-sought after forwards, should their Saudi Arabian-financed takeover get the green light.
Liam Kennedy
By Liam Kennedy
Published 15th Apr 2020, 12:29 BST
Updated 15th Apr 2020, 15:33 BST
NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Dries Mertens (L) of Napoli celebrates scoring the opening goal alongside Lorenzo Insigne (R) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo on February 25, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Dries Mertens (L) of Napoli celebrates scoring the opening goal alongside Lorenzo Insigne (R) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo on February 25, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Dries Mertens (L) of Napoli celebrates scoring the opening goal alongside Lorenzo Insigne (R) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo on February 25, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And 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."

Related topics:ChelseaMike Ashley