Football is on the backburner of course, but there appears to be a lot going on currently at Newcastle.
There are talks about owner Mike Ashley entertaining a £300m deal to sell the club on, with financier Amanda Staveley front and centre of the purchase of the famous north east club.
Premier League informed of deal
Apparently, the Premier League have been informed of the deal that is in the works and the deal is being looked at.
While that will be a massive boost for the club and the fans who feel that Ashely has been holding them back for so long, it does put some pressure on current boss Steve Bruce.
Newcastle Takeover Specials
Steve Bruce not to be Newcastle manager for the opening game of the 2020/21 Premier League season 4/11
Steve Bruce to be Newcastle manager for the opening game of the 2020/21 Premier League season 2/1
Newcastle to win either the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup in the next two seasons after 2019/20 at 7/2
Newcastle to finish in the top 6 in the 2020/21 Premier League season at 4/1
To win the Premier League in any of the next 5 seasons after 2019/20 at 15/2 Newcastle to win the FA Cup or EFL Cup in the 2020/21 season at 12/1
Newcastle to finish in the top 4 in the 2020/21 Premier League season at 14/1
Newcastle to sign either Harry Kane or Jadon Sancho before January 2021 at 20/1
To sign either Kylian Mbappe or Neymar before January 2021 at 25/1Newcastle to win the Champions League in any of the next 5 seasons after 2019/20 at 25/1
Newcastle to win both the Premier League and Champions League in the next 3 seasons after 19/20 at 66/1
Newcastle to win the 2020/21 Premier League at 100/1
* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16th April 2020).
Odds on Bruce to leave ahead of next season slashed
Bookies were quick to slash the odds on Steve Bruce not being the Newcastle manager on the first day of next season.
Bookmaker Betfair currently have that option running at 4/11* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16th April 2020).
With takeovers like this comes new ambitions from the new owners.
So will Bruce be in the dugout at St James’ Park beyond this current season? He is a 2/1 price currently to be in charge at the start of the 2021 season* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16th April 2020).
Who would replace Bruce on Tyneside?
This, of course, raises another interesting market, who the Next Permanent Newcastle manager would be.
Topping the list at 2/1 is Rafa Benitez, who Bruce replaced last summer.
The departure of Benitez was a thorn in the side for many Newcastle fans who trusted in the Spaniard and the work he was doing on such a limited budget under Mike Ashley.
As the boss couldn’t be backed in the transfer market, rumours are that he felt he had to move on.
Next Permanent Newcastle Manager Odds*
Rafa Benitez 2/1
Massimiliano Allegri 6/1
Mauricio Pochettino 7/1
Steven Gerrard 14/1
Robert Matintez 16/1
Sean Dyche 16/1
Eddie Howe 18/1
Laurent Blanc 20/1
Kevin Keegan 25/1
Paulo Fonseca 25/1
Marco Rose 25/1
Marcelo Bielsa 25/1
Micahel Carrick 25/1
Chris Wilder 25/1
33/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16th April 2020).
About Staveley
The presence of Yorkshire-born Amanda Staveley in all of this is fascinating.
She was part of the broker team that helped Sheikh Mansour purchase Manchester City in 2008.
There were apparently talks between her and Newcastle owner Ashley in 2018, which went nowhere, with Ashley saying that the talks were just a “waste of time”.
Staveley is launching this current bid through her firm PCP Capital Partners and has some heavy backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Man City admiration
Staveley is by all accounts a Newcastle fan, but admires how Manchester City have been managed since their big takeover, just over a decade ago.
That praise was largely about their set up, facilities and youth academy, not the big-money deals that have happened there.
So any potential takeover like this is going to inject funds into Newcastle.
But will it be a gung-ho spending spree starting with a top European manager, or will it slow and steady.
Newcastle are 3/1 to spend over £100m on any player before the 31st of January 2021* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16th April 2020).
More importantly of course, with Mike Ashley involved, is a deal going to happen at all?
